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ChurchWatch

Join Craig von Buseck weekdays as he shares his perspective on the major trends and news affecting the Body of Christ today.

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Abortion Support Slips in Pew Poll

The Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press have released the results of a new national poll that finds that fewer Americans express support for abortion than in previous years.

Conducted from Aug. 11-27 among a total of 4,013 adults, the new poll reveals less support for abortion among most demographic and political groups. The survey also finds that the abortion debate has receded in importance, especially among liberals. At the same time, opposition to abortion has grown more firm among conservatives.

No single reason for the shift in opinions is apparent, but the pattern of changes suggests that the election of a pro-choice Democrat for president may be a contributing factor.

Other notable findings include:

  • One of the largest declines in support for legal abortion has occurred among white, non-Hispanic Catholics who attend Mass at least weekly. Substantial change has also occurred among Democratic men (with support for legal abortion down nine points) but not among Democratic women.
  • Even as the public expresses support for finding a middle ground on abortion, most Americans are quite certain that their own position on abortion is the right one, with only one-quarter saying they ever wonder about their views on the issue.
  • A large number of people on both sides of the issue say that the opposite point of view on abortion is not a "respectable" opinion for someone to hold.
  • Overall, roughly three-in-ten Americans think that President Barack Obama will handle the abortion issue about right, while four-in-ten are unaware of his position on the issue.
  • About two-in-ten worry that Obama will go too far in supporting abortion rights.

In Pew Research Center polls in 2007 and 2008, supporters of legal abortion clearly outnumbered opponents. Now Americans are evenly divided on the question, and there have been modest increases in the numbers who favor reducing abortions or making them harder to obtain.

The report, including a detailed executive summary, methodology and topline questionnaire, is available online (http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=441). Pew says that additional results from the survey will be released in subsequent reports.

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Committee Strikes Down Pro-Life Amendments

Could Abortion Issue Delay Health Care Vote?

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Print      Email to a Friend    posted on Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:59 PM

Comments on this post

# RE: Abortion Support Slips in Pew Poll

I am pro-choice, however, I think we should all be working toward the common goal of reducing abortions. But to do this, we need to provide "real" sex education to children and young adults and provide free or low-cost contraceptives to anyone that is sexually active. Those that want to make abortions illegal yet only advocate for "abstinence only" birth control are deluding themselves. Under those conditions, there will always be abortions, they'll just be illegal and endanger the girls and women that are forced to make that horrible choice.
Left by Can'tBelieveThis on Oct 02, 2009 2:35 PM

# RE: Abortion Support Slips in Pew Poll

I can't support abortion as a Christian. The Bible is very clear on when it believes a "life" is created. Psalms 51:5-6 "For I was born a sinner, yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there."
I've never bought into the philosophy that kids are going to "do it" anyway so we should affirm their harmful decision by providing contraceptives. Since abstinence is the only 100% guarantee of not getting an STD or pregnant, why shouldn't we encourage this? If we want to talk about solutions, what about reducing/policing rampant pornography that's captivating the minds of our kids and perverting their image of love and sex? I agree that there may be many kids who aren't abstinent, but claiming it's not working is absurd considering the current sex-ed curriculum in schools barely give it a sentence. Teens who are going to do it anyway don't need us validate that choice in school.
Left by Greco163 on Oct 07, 2009 3:25 AM

# RE: Abortion Support Slips in Pew Poll

I am against abortion but I also feel that each person has to make this decision when it affects them. In todays world with all the things we have to not get pregnant I don't really see any reason to have abortions since no one should get pregnant unless they want to. Of course you will always have the rape and mothers life at stake scenarios in which case I would see the need for abortion.
Left by Jim on Oct 08, 2009 3:34 PM

# RE: Abortion Support Slips in Pew Poll

Jim, I completely agree, no one should be pregnant if they don't want to. However, current statistics show that 62% of unwanted pregnancies occur in households that are below the poverty line. So, while women may want to prevent pregnancies, they may not have the financial resources to obtain birth control. Until that issue is resolved, this will just be an endless debate.
Left by Can'tBelieveThis on Oct 09, 2009 12:54 PM

# RE: Abortion Support Slips in Pew Poll

Maybe people are actually coming around to the truth that while society has been discussing "choices"; abortion kills babies. Maybe the abortionists description of the fetus as blob of tissue is not so convincing anymore. Maybe enough of us have noticed that a developing baby in the womb is only referred to as a fetus when it is headed for death row. Has anyone ever heard of a doctor congratulating a woman because she is going to have a fetus?
What must the woman seeking an abortion imagine in her mind when she is told that what is developing inside of her is a just fetus as opposed to a baby? Certainly she is not thinking that a heart is developing, that arms, legs, fingers and toes are in their primitive stages. She surely could not imagine that everything that is needed for the development of her child is in that "fetus" at the onset. Maybe we are seeing a return to truth; pregnancy = baby. If so, I imagine babies couldn't be happier.
Left by Joan West on Oct 15, 2009 7:27 PM