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BLOG.CUF.ORG--Not that we'll be forming our consciences or making moral decisions based on polls, but here's some encouraging news.
PRINCETON, NJ -- A new Gallup Poll, conducted May 7-10, finds 51% of Americans calling themselves "pro-life" on the issue of abortion and 42% "pro-choice." This is the first time a majority of U.S. adults have identified themselves as pro-life since Gallup began asking this question in 1995.
The new results, obtained from Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs survey, represent a significant shift from a year ago, when 50% were pro-choice and 44% pro-life. Prior to now, the highest percentage identifying as pro-life was 46%, in both August 2001 and May 2002. [Read the rest of the story.]
Scroll down in the article, and you'll read that "''Pro-Life' [Is] Up Among Catholics and Protestants": "The swelling of the pro-life position since last year is seen across Christian religious affiliations, including an eight-point gain among Protestants and a seven-point gain among Catholics."
If the poll reflects more than a brief, national twinge of conscience, then we can hope that those who describe themselves as "pro-life" will reflect that in their vote, in their support of women who are pregnant, and in other pro-life activities.
Speaking of supporting pregnant women and pro-life activities . . . Cardinal Justin Rigali, the USCCB's chair of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, recently wrote to all U.S. senators "urging them to support the Pregnant Women Support Act (PWSA, S. 1032) re-introduced in the Senate by Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA) on May 14. The PWSA provides resources and support for pregnant and parenting women and their families." From the USCCB news release:
Among other provisions, the Act will ensure that pregnant women are not denied coverage by insurance companies; establish a toll-free number for resources during pregnancy and after birth; provide life-affirming pregnancy services and parenting education in maternity group homes and other centers; provide new mothers with free home visits by registered nurses; and codify the current regulation allowing states to provide State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) coverage to unborn children and their mothers. It will also encourage adoption by expanding adoption tax credit and adoption assistance programs.
In his letter, Cardinal Rigali writes, "The Pregnant Women Support Act reaches out to women with a helping hand when they are most vulnerable, and most engaged in making a decision about life or death for their unborn children. It provides an authentic common ground, an approach that people can embrace regardless of their position on other issues." |
