The latest Marist survey taken for the Knights of Columbus reveals that 59% of Americans support a ban on abortions after 20 weeks, except to save the life of the mother. Only 35% oppose the ban. Twenty weeks is the point at which medical science demonstrates that the unborn child can experience pain.
There is also overwhelming bi-partisan opposition to the use of tax payer dollars to pay for abortions at home or aboard and support for broad limitations on abortion.
Conducted December 12-19, 2016, the poll found a total of 52% believe abortion should be available “only in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother” (30%); only to save the life of the mother (12%); or never permitted under any circumstances (10%). Another 22% would limit abortion to the first three months of a pregnancy.
Only 16% of Americans told Marist that abortion should be “available to a woman any time during her pregnancy.”
In addition 59% of Americans believe abortion is morally wrong, 78% agree it is possible to have laws “which protect both the health and well-being of a man and the life of the unborn,” and only 31% believe abortion improves a woman’s life compared to 50% who believe abortion “does more harm than good.”
Moreover, the survey of 2,729 adults found an intensity gap among people who self-identified as pro-life or pro-choice. That is, 61% of pro-life Americans “strongly identify” with their position as compared to 52% off pro-choice Americans. This pro-life advantage holds regardless of “age, gender, or race,” according to a Knights of Columbus summary of the results.
Abortion Funding
Americans strongly resist paying for abortions, a long-standing position which pro-abortion presidential candidate Hillary Clinton promised to challenge directly and which pro-life President Donald Trump said he would vigorously defend.
By a six to one margin (83% to 14%) Americans oppose having tax dollars pay for abortions in other countries. And by a whopping 61% to 35%, Americans resist paying for abortions at home.
Right of Conscience
The Obama administration was out of step with the American public on every phase of the abortion question. That included the right not to be pulled into involvement with abortion.
The KOC poll asked, “Do you think doctors, nurses, or organizations who have moral objections to abortion should or should not be legally required to perform or provided insurance coverage for abortions?.” In response 60% said they should not be legally required to do so.
LifeNews.com Note: Dave Andrusko is the editor of National Right to Life News and an author and editor of several books on abortion topics. This post originally appeared in at National Right to Life News Today —- an online column on pro-life issues.
