October 2, 2009
Pew Forum: Support for Abortion Rights Shrinks
Obama's election cited as a possible reason for the shift.
Pew Forum: Support for Abortion Rights Shrinks
Obama's election cited as a possible reason for the shift.
SUMMARY: Support for "abortion rights" has fallen sharply during the past
year according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Americans are split
roughly 50-50 between those who back legal access to abortion and those who
oppose it. A year ago 54% of Americans felt abortion should be legal in all or
most cases; now only 47% do. At the same time the percent of those who feel
abortion should be illegal in all or most cases has risen from 41% to 45%.
"These data suggest that a number of people have changed their minds in the
past year," Gregory Smith, one of the survey's authors said. Support for
abortion rights dropped among both men and women, among college-educated
people and those less educated, and among people from various religious
backgrounds.
Pro-life activists welcomed the findings. "Pro-lifers are making an effective case
that all women deserve better than abortion and that every child deserves a
chance to be born," said Cathy Ruse of the Family Research Council
However, Terry O'Neill of the pro-abortion National Organization for Women
which rejects religious opposition to abortion called the practice a "blessing"
when chosen freely by a woman who "needs it." She cited a violent marriage in
her early 20s that she, at one point, thought had produced a pregnancy. "If I
had had a baby, I would have been tied to that man for the rest of my life," she
said.
Gregory Smith of the Pew Forum suspects the election of pro-choice President
Obama may be one cause for the shift in public opinion. Support for abortion
rights had been consistent until Pew began noticing a change in public opinion
in April, a shift confirmed by the larger study in August. Also, Smith said
opponents of abortion feel more strongly about their position than supporters of
legal access to abortion.
To read the entire article click on this link to CNN.
COMMENT: More encouraging news for the pro-life community. Our May 18
post examined a Gallup Poll that showed even better news in that 51% of
Americans now call themselves pro-life as opposed to 42% who prefer the
pro-choice label.
Nevertheless, when you have from 42% to 47% of Americans who believe that
abortion should be legal in most or all cases, this shows a lot of work still needs
to be done to convince people about the tragedy that abortion represents. Yes,
Ms. O'Neill was in a sad situation when she thought she was about to become
the mother of a baby whose father was so abusive. Yet, can she really justify
taking the life of a baby merely because it would cause her to have bad
memories?
The best approach to solving the abortion problem is the Word of God. Once
people can be convinced from the Bible (Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 1:5) that God
does not approve of the practice, except perhaps when necessary to save the
life of the mother, they might be led by the Holy Spirit to change their views.
Only God can create life and only God can morally give permission to take a life.
Our continuing efforts to support the right of life for unborn children might also
remind people that God alone can also provide the life that never ends, eternal
life in heaven. This eternal life is freely available to pro-choice people and
pro-life people alike. Of course, it is our prayer and expectation that those who
currently hold to the pro-choice position will repent of their sins, begin
respecting the right of unborn children to be born, and accept the gift of
salvation available only through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
**************************************************************************************
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your request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
**************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What currently is the average life expectancy in the United States?
**************************************************************************************
year according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Americans are split
roughly 50-50 between those who back legal access to abortion and those who
oppose it. A year ago 54% of Americans felt abortion should be legal in all or
most cases; now only 47% do. At the same time the percent of those who feel
abortion should be illegal in all or most cases has risen from 41% to 45%.
"These data suggest that a number of people have changed their minds in the
past year," Gregory Smith, one of the survey's authors said. Support for
abortion rights dropped among both men and women, among college-educated
people and those less educated, and among people from various religious
backgrounds.
Pro-life activists welcomed the findings. "Pro-lifers are making an effective case
that all women deserve better than abortion and that every child deserves a
chance to be born," said Cathy Ruse of the Family Research Council
However, Terry O'Neill of the pro-abortion National Organization for Women
which rejects religious opposition to abortion called the practice a "blessing"
when chosen freely by a woman who "needs it." She cited a violent marriage in
her early 20s that she, at one point, thought had produced a pregnancy. "If I
had had a baby, I would have been tied to that man for the rest of my life," she
said.
Gregory Smith of the Pew Forum suspects the election of pro-choice President
Obama may be one cause for the shift in public opinion. Support for abortion
rights had been consistent until Pew began noticing a change in public opinion
in April, a shift confirmed by the larger study in August. Also, Smith said
opponents of abortion feel more strongly about their position than supporters of
legal access to abortion.
To read the entire article click on this link to CNN.
COMMENT: More encouraging news for the pro-life community. Our May 18
post examined a Gallup Poll that showed even better news in that 51% of
Americans now call themselves pro-life as opposed to 42% who prefer the
pro-choice label.
Nevertheless, when you have from 42% to 47% of Americans who believe that
abortion should be legal in most or all cases, this shows a lot of work still needs
to be done to convince people about the tragedy that abortion represents. Yes,
Ms. O'Neill was in a sad situation when she thought she was about to become
the mother of a baby whose father was so abusive. Yet, can she really justify
taking the life of a baby merely because it would cause her to have bad
memories?
The best approach to solving the abortion problem is the Word of God. Once
people can be convinced from the Bible (Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 1:5) that God
does not approve of the practice, except perhaps when necessary to save the
life of the mother, they might be led by the Holy Spirit to change their views.
Only God can create life and only God can morally give permission to take a life.
Our continuing efforts to support the right of life for unborn children might also
remind people that God alone can also provide the life that never ends, eternal
life in heaven. This eternal life is freely available to pro-choice people and
pro-life people alike. Of course, it is our prayer and expectation that those who
currently hold to the pro-choice position will repent of their sins, begin
respecting the right of unborn children to be born, and accept the gift of
salvation available only through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
**************************************************************************************
Want to be automatically notified each time there is a new post? Just e-mail
your request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
**************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What currently is the average life expectancy in the United States?
**************************************************************************************
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| LSI stands for the Lutheran Science Institute, an organization of WELS and ELS Lutherans interested in science and health issues with a special emphasis on the creation and evolution controversy. This blog's purpose is to search the Internet to find articles of interest to Christians. Views expressed are those of the author (Warren Krug) and are not necessarily those of the Lutheran Science Institute, Inc. |
78.1 years. About 20 people per 100,000 can
expect to reach 100 years or more. Only about
25% of longevity is determined by genetics; the
rest by lifestyle choices.
Source: Bottom Line Personal (October 1, 200
expect to reach 100 years or more. Only about
25% of longevity is determined by genetics; the
rest by lifestyle choices.
Source: Bottom Line Personal (October 1, 200