As the pro-life community prepares to observe the 40th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision with the March for Life in Washington and numerous other walks and events throughout the country, a new Knights of Columbus/Marist Poll survey gives them reason to hope. The survey, which has been conducted five times in the past five years found that 83 percent of Americans favor significant restrictions on abortion.
This overwhelming consensus stands in sharp contrast to the bitterly divisive pro-life/pro-choice surveys popularized by typical polling questions which show that Americans are split nearly 50-50 on the pro-life or pro-choice question. But the Knights’ survey digs deeper, removing the labels of pro-choice and pro-life and focusing instead on the heart of the matter: when abortion should and should not be legal. The survey gives respondents six options: always, first six months, first trimester only, only in cases of rape, incest and life of the mother, only in cases of life of the mother, and never.
“For years polls have found that Americans divide on labeling themselves as pro-life or pro-choice,” said Lee Miringoff of The Marist Poll. “By asking more detailed questions about their specific views on abortion, we have been able to go beyond those labels to get a more complete picture of what Americans actually think about this issue.”
The results speak for themselves.
Abortion is not the only issue where there is a consensus hiding behind politically-charged labels. Across a wide spectrum of issues, Americans form a clear and decisive majority despite the protestations to the contrary from politicians and the media. The issue is explored in depth in Supreme Knight Carl Anderson’s latest book, Beyond a House Divided: The Moral Consensus Ignored by Washington, Wall Street and the Media.
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It is great to see that 83% of Americans favour significant restrictions on abortion. In today's Gospel, we hear how Jesus grieved the hardness of heart of the Pharisees, as he heals the man with the withered hand. Let us open our hearts in faith, entrusting our culture to the healing power of Christ, the One who has overcome sin and the power of evil. We recall the words of Pope Benedict XVI, having faith that "this God exists, and hence that this power to 'take away the sin of the world' (Jn 1:29) is present in the world" (Saved in Hope [Spe Salvi], 36).In today's Gospel, we hear how Jesus grieved the hardness of heart of the Pharisees, as he heals the man with the withered hand. Let us open our hearts in faith, entrusting our culture to the healing power of Christ, the One who has overcome sin and the power of evil. We recall the words of Pope Benedict XVI, having faith that "this God exists, and hence that this power to 'take away the sin of the world' (Jn 1:29) is present in the world" (Saved in Hope [Spe Salvi], 36).(This is from the daily Intercesions given by USCCB for 9 days of prayer on the occassion of the 4oth anniversary of Roe and Wade judgement
Posted by: Irudayam.Y | 01/23/2013 at 12:27 PM