Abortion is Harmful for Women Say Most Americans in New National Poll

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Oct 29, 2004   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Abortion is Harmful for Women Say Most Americans in New National Poll Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 29, 2004

Chicago, IL (LifeNews.com) — A new nationwide poll shows that Americans are picking up on what an increasing number of women who have had abortions are saying — abortion hurts women.

According to a nationwide poll conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide, a strong majority of Americans believe abortion is "almost always a bad thing" for women, even when they know someone who has had an abortion.

Wirthlin surveyed 1,001 adults from September 24 through 27 and found that 61 percent of respondents said they felt abortion was "almost always a bad thing." Only 23 percent said abortion was "almost always a good thing." Some 16 percent say they don’t know.

The poll results revealed that 64 percent of Americans know someone who has had an abortion and only 33 percent say they do not.

When asked whether the abortion experience of the person they knew was positive or negative, 55 percent identified it as a negative experience overall while just 40 percent said it was a positive one.

"This poll shows that Americans are increasingly aware that legalized abortion harms women," said Dorinda Bordlee, senior legislative counsel for Americans United for Life.

"Over thirty years of abortion has wreaked havoc on women’s physical and psychological heath, and has served to facilitate the sexual exploitation of women," Bordlee added. "This poll shows that Americans are facing the reality that the violence of abortion leads to disaster for women, our children, and our culture. Abortion has not turned out to be the great liberator we were told it would be."

Women who have been hurt by abortion are beginning to make their voices known.

More than 1,000 women have joined the Silent No More Awareness Campaign to share about abortion’s emotional, spiritual and physical consequences.

Jennifer O’Neil, an actress and longtime Cover Girl model who starred in the hit movie "Summer of ’42," was coerced into having an abortion and is the campaign’s spokeswoman.

"Sharing how my faith and the knowledge of God’s truth brought me forgiveness, healing and closure after years of pain and regret is an awesome privilege," O’Neil said.

"To have the opportunity to encourage and comfort the hearts of women who have suffered is humbling, and making the whole truth known about abortion is absolutely necessary."

Related web sites:
Silent No More Awareness Campaign –
https://www.SilentNoMoreAwareness.org
Americans United for Life – https://www.aul.org