New Zogby Poll on Abortion
As the nation marks the 33rd anniversary of the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade that established abortion rights across America, a slight ma
The survey shows that 52% favor abortion, including 10% who saying they believe it should be available, but that the government should not pay for it.
Forty-three percent oppose abortion, though most of those believe there should be exceptions in the cases of rape, incest, or when the pregnancy posed a grave threat to the life of the mother. A total of 9% said they “always oppose” abortion.
Among women, 50% said they favored abortion in all cases, while another 8% said they favor it but do not want the government to pay for it. Thirty-eight percent of women said they opposed abortion outright, or with certain exceptions. Among men, 59% said they oppose abortion completely or with certain exceptions, while 35% said they favor it always. Another 12% said they favor it but do not want the government to pay for it.
“What’s striking to me is that the numbers were radically different ten years ago,” said John Zogby, President and CEO of Zogby International. “Ten years ago, maybe
They still represent a ma
The Zogby survey highlights a dramatic partisan split on the question. While 74% of Democrats said they favor abortion in all circumstances,
Among independents, 45% said they always favor the right to an abortion.
Among Republicans, 77% said that “abortion destroys a human life and is manslaughter,” while 13% disagreed with that statement. Among Democrats, 15% believe that abortion destroys a human life and is manslaughter, and 70% disagreed.
The poll comes as the U.S. Senate is preparing to vote soon on the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. Judge Alito, nominated last year by President Bush to take the seat now occupied by moderate Sandra Day O’Connor, is considered a conservative that could change the balance on the court on this issue and others.
The partisan divide over abortion is most dramatic when considering whether parents should be notified before a daughter’s abortion. While 88% of Republicans agree parents should know ahead of time,
The national split extends to the question about late-term abortion. One-third opposes late-term abortions except when the mother’s life is in danger; one-third opposes the procedure except when the overall health of the mother is at risk, and 20% said they opposed late-term abortions in all circumstances. Another 11% said they did not agree with any of those circumstances.
posted by MovinMan at
1/24/2006 05:16:00 AM
7 Comments:
Everyone seems to be confused on Abortion. Even most Pro-life people support the death penalty. So it's not okay to kill the unborn, but it's okay to kill an adult as punishment for crime? As for me, it's cut & dried. Life is life. Sex is a beautiful & sacred thing. It feels great and creates babies- that's what it does. We can try to prevent pregnancy but there is NO guarantee. You do the dance, you get pregnant- take responsibility. But, I'm not an in-your-face Pro-lifer either. I would prefer to be categorized as a Choose-lifer. Many Pro-life people are just as- or even more hateful & irresponsible with thier behavior- all for the sake of a good cause. Making terrible threats, murder, using intimidation tactics & hideous posters- is that any more ethical? I detest abortion! I believe life begins at conception. But I also don't believe in hate-mongoring or using abortion to make our country a theocracy. For the pro-life people, how many of you have spent time in the trenches at a crisis pregnancy center? You don't want girls to get abortions, then don't turn your backs on them in scorn & judgement when they show up pregnant. Pro-choice people, are you offering your time or resources in support of girls who had abortions and are suffering terrible feelings of guilt or loss? Are you there for the ones who have scar tissue in their uterus and later find it difficult to get pregnant again? Both sides of the issue lack follow-up support...
By
Trailady, at 12:48 PM, January 24, 2006
PS. I consider adoption a wise & responsible choice for those carrying an unwanted pregnancy. Perhaps there would be fewer abortions if girls didn't face getting kicked out of school & shamed- while the father of the child more-or-less gets off scott-free? If church people would be more forgiving & understanding, maybe fewer girls would feel the need to get rid of the baby?
By
Trailady, at 12:57 PM, January 24, 2006
Sorry, but abortion on demand is dead wrong! Capital punishment is biblical. I protect innocent unborn. Im not violent about it. I agree with criminals dying for their crimes. Imagine how you would feel if someone killed one of your kids. Wouldnt you feel better knowing that person was dead and couldnt kill anymore? Abortion and euthanasia is legalized murder. Look at what happened to Terry Schivo. Made me sick at heart!
By
Anonymous, at 11:31 AM, January 25, 2006
So this was good info, but where does Karl stand on abortion? Do you know abortion is done in the SDA hospitals! Why do they not take a better position on this?
By
Anonymous, at 11:56 AM, January 25, 2006
Where do I stand on abortion? Let's see, I believe that all life is sacred. Abortion as a means of birth control, I find extremely disturbing and would never support such actions. I find the abortion issue to be one that I have trouble really coming to any full conclusion on myself. Is it acceptable in situations where the life of the mother is at risk? That, to me, is something that the family has to decide together after much prayer and seeking God's guidance. I would judge a family in that situation, no matter what their decision. That choice is one that I cannot possibly begin to understand. The same holds true in respect to rape, incest or in situations where the unborn baby is shown to be severly handicapped. I have heard of situations where, even in those circumstances, God blessed their difficult decisions and they were stronger from it.
I guess my bottom line is that I think that abortion should be extrememly rare, but I think the option should be available in certain situations.
You mentioned that abortions are performed at certain Adventist medical facilities. While that is true, I know that it is not done as convienience abortions. Read the next comment on the official stand of the Adventist church on abortion.
By
MovinMan, at 8:39 AM, January 26, 2006
Guidelines on Abortion
Many contemporary societies have faced conflict over the morality of abortion.* Such conflict also has affected large numbers within Christianity who want to accept responsibility for the protection of prenatal human life while also preserving the personal liberty of women. The need for guidelines has become evident, as the Church attempts to follow scripture, and to provide moral guidance while respecting individual conscience. Seventh-day Adventists want to relate to the question of abortion in ways that reveal faith in God as the Creator and Sustainer of all life and in ways that reflect Christian responsibility and freedom. Though honest differences on the question of abortion exist among Seventh-day Adventists, the following represents an attempt to provide guidelines on a number of principles and issues. The guidelines are based on broad biblical principles that are presented for study at the end of the document.**
1) Prenatal human life is a magnificent gift of God. God's ideal for human beings affirms the sanctity of human life, in God's image, and requires respect for prenatal life. However, decisions about life must be made in the context of a fallen world. Abortion is never an action of little moral consequence. Thus prenatal life must not be thoughtlessly destroyed. Abortion should be performed only for the most serious reasons.
2) Abortion is one of the tragic dilemmas of human fallenness. The Church should offer gracious support to those who personally face the decision concerning an abortion. Attitudes of condemnation are inappropriate in those who have accepted the gospel. Christians are commissioned to become a loving, caring community of faith that assists those in crisis as alternatives are considered.
3) In practical, tangible ways the Church as a supportive community should express its commitment to the value of human life. These ways should include:
a. strengthening family relationships
b. educating both genders concerning Christian principles of human sexuality
c. emphasizing responsibility of both male and female for family planning
d. calling both to be responsible for the consequences of behaviors that are inconsistent with Christian principles
e. creating a safe climate for ongoing discussion of the moral questions associated with abortion
f. offering support and assistance to women who choose to complete crisis pregnancies
g. encouraging and assisting fathers to participate responsibly in the parenting of their children.
The Church also should commit itself to assist in alleviating the unfortunate social, economic, and psychological factors that add to abortion and to care redemptively for those suffering the consequences of individual decisions on this issue.
4) The Church does not serve as conscience for individuals; however, it should provide moral guidance. Abortions for reasons of birth control, gender selection, or convenience are not condoned by the Church. Women, at times however, may face exceptional circumstances that present serious moral or medical dilemmas, such as significant threats to the pregnant woman's life, serious jeopardy to her health, severe congenital defects carefully diagnosed in the fetus, and pregnancy resulting from rape or incest. The final decision whether to terminate the pregnancy or not should be made by the pregnant woman after appropriate consultation. She should be aided in her decision by accurate information, biblical principles, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, these decisions are best made within the context of healthy family relationships.
5) Christians acknowledge as first and foremost their accountability to God. They seek balance between the exercise of individual liberty and their accountability to the faith community and the larger society and its laws. They make their choices according to scripture and the laws of God rather than the norms of society. Therefore, any attempts to coerce women either to remain pregnant or to terminate pregnancy should be rejected as infringements of personal freedom.
6) Church institutions should be provided with guidelines for developing their own institutional policies in harmony with this statement. Persons having a religious or ethical objection to abortion should not be required to participate in the performance of abortions.
7) Church members should be encouraged to participate in the ongoing consideration of their moral responsibilities with regard to abortion in light of the teaching of scripture.
Principles for a Christian View of Life
Introduction
"Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (John 17:3, NIV). In Christ is the promise of eternal life; but since human life is mortal, humans are confronted with difficult issues regarding life and death. The following principles refer to the whole person (body, soul, and spirit), an indivisible whole (Genesis 2:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Life: Our valuable gift from God
1) God is the Source, Giver, and Sustainer of all life (Acts 17:25,28; Job 33:4; Genesis 1:30, 2:7; Psalm 36:9; John 1:3,4).
2) Human life has unique value because human beings, though fallen, are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:23; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 3:2; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18,19).
3) God values human life not on the basis of human accomplishments or contributions but because we are God's creation and the object of His redeeming love (Romans 5:6,8; Ephesians 2:2-6; 1 Timothy 1:15; Titus 3:4,5; Matthew 5:43-48; Ephesians 2:4-9; John 1:3, 10:10).
Life: Our response to God's gift
4) Valuable as it is, human life is not the only or ultimate concern. Self-sacrifice in devotion to God and His principles may take precedence over life itself (Revelation 12:11; 1 Corinthians 13).
5) God calls for the protection of human life and holds humanity accountable for its destruction (Exodus 20:13; Revelation 21:8; Exodus 23:7; Deuteronomy 24:16; Proverbs 6:16,17; Jeremiah 7:3-34; Micah 6:7; Genesis 9:5,6).
6) God is especially concerned for the protection of the weak, the defenseless, and the oppressed (Psalm 82:3,4; James 1:27; Micah 6:8; Acts 20:35; Proverbs 24:11,12; Luke 1:52-54).
7) Christian love (agape) is the costly dedication of our lives to enhancing the lives of others. Love also respects personal dignity and does not condone the oppression of one person to support the abusive behavior of another (Matthew 16:21; Philippians 2:1-11; 1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:8-11; Matthew 22:39; John 18:22,23; John 13:34).
8) The believing community is called to demonstrate Christian love in tangible, practical, and substantive ways. God calls us to restore gently the broken (Galatians 6:1,2; 1 John 3:17,18; Matthew 1:23; Philippians 2:1-11; John 8:2-11; Romans 8:1-14; Matthew 7:1,2, 12:20; Isaiah 40:42, 62:2-4).
Life: Our right and responsibility to decide
9) God gives humanity the freedom of choice, even if it leads to abuse and tragic consequences. His unwillingness to coerce human obedience necessitated the sacrifice of His Son. He requires us to use His gifts in accordance with His will and ultimately will judge their misuse (Deuteronomy 30:19,20; Genesis 3; 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 3:5,6, 6:1,2; Galatians 5:13).
10) God calls each of us individually to moral decision making and to search the scriptures for the biblical principles underlying such choices (John 5:39; Acts 17:11; 1 Peter 2:9; Romans 7:13-25).
11) Decisions about human life from its beginning to its end are best made within the context of healthy family relationships with the support of the faith community (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 5,6).
12) Human decisions should always be centered in seeking the will of God (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 6:6; Luke 22:42).
*Abortion, as understood in these guidelines, is defined as any action aimed at the termination of a pregnancy already established. This is distinguished from contraception, which is intended to prevent a pregnancy. The focus of the document is on abortion.
**The fundamental perspective of these guidelines is taken from a broad study of scripture as shown in the "Principles for a Christian View of Human Life" included at the end of this document.
_______________
These guidelines were approved and voted by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Executive Committee at the Annual Council session in Silver Spring, Maryland, October 12, 1992.
By
MovinMan, at 8:42 AM, January 26, 2006
Interesting thanks for that Karl. I dont condemn abortion if the mothers actual life is in danger. If she feels its a threat to her lifestyle, thats where I have a problem with it. According to statistics, pregnancy from rape is rare, less then 10%. Why not carry the child and put it up for adoption? But rob a child of life because its father was a predator and couldnt keep it in his pants doesnt make sense. Every one in this life will have things to deal with that we didnt want. Some people are injured, some get sick, others get pregnant. Its not the end of the world!
By
Anonymous, at 9:26 AM, January 26, 2006
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