It's been 45 years since the Supreme Court created the right to abortion in America, and those supporting the resulting annual March for Life in Washington would like to see that reversed.
They're not without logical arguments, since the Roe v. Wade opinion pointed out that if the humanity of the unborn ever was documented, the entire case for abortion would collapse. Science since has shown life begins at conception.
But until that happens, Americans want more limits on abortion, which since Roe v. Wade is estimated to have taken the lives of 60 million unborn.
A new Marist Poll from the Knights of Columbus shows a supermajority of Americans would limit the procedure to the first three months of pregnancy, including even a majority of those who say they are pro-abortion.
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The poll shows 76 percent, including six in 10 "pro-choice" Americans, believe abortion should be limited to the first three months of a pregnancy or only in "cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother."
Among the polls results: "Seventy-eight percent of respondents said that laws can protect both the health and well-being of a woman and the life of the unborn, while only 15 percent said laws should protect one and not the other. Surprisingly, 73 percent of those identifying as 'pro-choice' agreed that both the unborn and women can be protected. Seventy-three percent of Democrats and 80 percent of independents shared that view."
"It is hardly surprising that after (60) million abortions in this country, an overwhelming majority of the American people want substantial limits," said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. "This survey shows clearly that the 'pro-choice' label can no longer be assumed to mean support for abortion on demand.
"Nor can abortion be thought of as a partisan issue since majorities of Democrats, Independents and Republicans all agree that it should be substantially restricted. It is high time that our political debates reflected this national consensus and used it as a starting point."
The poll found 56 percent of Americans believe abortion is "morally wrong," a figure that surges to 64 percent for abortions "sought in the cases of unborn children with genetic issues like Down syndrome."
"And by more than 15 percentage points, a majority of Americans say that medical professionals and organizations with moral objections should not be forced to perform or provide insurance coverage for abortion."
The poll further found, "By more than 20 percentage points, a majority of Americans also say that abortion does a woman more harm than good in the long run (52 percent to 29 percent)."
Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot, vice president of the ADF Center for Life, said the poll "shows that Americans overwhelmingly stand for life and want stronger legal protection for both the unborn and pregnant women who seek alternatives to abortion."
"Government should protect innocent life and freedom of conscience for healthcare professionals, not Planned Parenthood and its billion-dollar, for-profit abortion business," he said.
ADF said the poll signals "an emerging 'pro-life' consensus in favor of greater protection for pregnant women and their children."
Among the findings:
- Seventy-eight percent of respondents said that laws can protect both the health and well-being of a woman and the life of the unborn, while only 15 percent said laws should protect one and not the other. Surprisingly, 73 percent of those identifying as "pro-choice" agreed that both the unborn and women can be protected. Seventy-three percent of Democrats and 80 percent of independents shared that view.
- Six in 10 "pro-choice" Americans (60 percent) believe abortion should be limited to the first three months of a pregnancy or only in "cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother."
- More than six in 10 Americans (63 percent) support a ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Fifty-six percent of "pro-choice" respondents support the "20-week ban."
- Six in 10 Americans oppose using taxpayer dollars to pay for a woman's abortion (60 percent), including 40 percent of those who identify as "pro-choice."
- A majority of Americans think those with moral objections shouldn't be legally required to provide abortion services or insurance coverage (54 percent). Only 38 percent oppose freedom of conscience for healthcare professionals.
- More than three quarters of Americans would limit abortion to — at most — the first three months of pregnancy. That number has consistently been about three quarters or more for the past decade. This year, the survey found that 76 percent of Americans want such limits. Strong majorities of Republicans (92 percent), Independents (78 percent) and Democrats (61 percent) agree, as do a majority of those who identify as pro-choice (60 percent).
- While a slim majority of Americans (51 percent) identify as pro-choice, even 60 percent of those who identify as such also support substantial limits.
The survey was done Dec. 4-7 of 1,267 adults and another 1,350 on Jan. 8-10.
Read the tested and proven strategies to defeat the abortion cartel, in "Abortion Free: Your Manual for Building a Pro-Life America One Community at a Time."