LIFE DIGEST: Poll shows diverse response on life issues
- Jun 8, 2010 -
A new Gallup poll reports the American public takes various stands on the moral acceptability of life issues.
The survey released May 26 showed the following opinions:
- On abortion, 50 percent of Americans believe it is morally wrong, while 38 percent believe it is morally acceptable.
- Americans are evenly divided on physician-assisted suicide, with those who say it is morally acceptable and those who say it is morally wrong at 46 percent each.
- Regarding embryonic stem cell research, 59 percent believe it is morally acceptable, and 32 percent believe it is morally wrong.
- On human cloning, only 9 percent say it is morally acceptable, while 88 percent say it is morally wrong.
Also in this edition: Kansas governor restores funds to Planned Parenthood, International Planned Parenthood income up $20 million, and Italians paid not to abort.
The country’s major pro-life organizations oppose abortion, embryonic stem cell research, assisted suicide and human cloning, both for research and reproductive purposes. Embryonic stem cell research requires the destruction of human embryos.
The poll’s result demonstrate “how important it is to frame issues properly,” said Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council.
“For example: Gallup asks if ‘cloning humans’ is morally acceptable or not. Framed that way, fully 88% of Americans say no,” Perkins wrote May 27.
“The poll then asks if ‘medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos’ is okay. Fifty-nine percent go along with this; only 32% oppose. What if Gallup were to ask the question this way: ‘Is it morally acceptable or not to kill embryonic human beings to obtain their stem cells?’ Wouldn’t this greatly change the poll’s response?”
Kansas governor restores funds to Planned Parenthood
Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson used a line-item veto to restore funding to Planned Parenthood, disappointing pro-life advocates in the state.
On May 27, the Democratic governor struck a provision that required all Title X funding to go to comprehensive health clinics and hospitals instead of family planning clinics. Title X is the federal government’s family planning program. Parkinson’s veto means two Planned Parenthood clinics in Kansas will receive $375,000 in Title X funds.
Title X money is not to be used for abortions, and Parkinson said the two Planned Parenthood clinics do not perform abortions.
Planned Parenthood, however, is the country’s leader abortion provider. Its affiliates performed more than 305,000 abortions in the United States in 2007, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Planned Parenthood received about $350 million in government grants and contracts in 2008.
“Governor Parkinson is out of step with the public, which doesn’t want to be linked with this abortion business. . . . It’s a sad day in Kansas when the Governor insures a politically motivated group like Planned Parenthood gets our taxpayer dollars while state health clinics are left wanting,” said Mary Kay Culp, executive director of Kansans for Life, in a written statement.
International Planned Parenthood income up $20 million
The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) reported an increase in total revenue of more than $20 million in 2009.
The IPPF’s income grew from $119.7 million in 2008 to $140.7 million last year, according to a financial statement released in May. More than $97 million of the 2009 total came in the form of government grants.
The statement showed massive growth in some of IPPF’s services, including:
- A rise in “abortion-related services” from 219,229 in 2005 to 1.1 million in 2008;
- An increase in the number of condoms distributed from 97.9 million in 2005 to 139.8 million in 2008.
Italians paid not to abort
Low-income women in northern Italy can receive $6,600 over 18 months to not abort their babies.
Roberto Formigoni, president of the Lombardy region, said June 2 he set aside funds to fulfill a campaign pledge that no woman should feel as if she had to choose an abortion because of financial need, The Australian reported.
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission works to protect the sanctity of human life. If you would like to learn more about this issue, additional resources are available here. Our free, downloadable Impact resource is also available online. If your church is interested in purchasing materials on the sanctity of human life, please visit our online bookstore and erlc.com.
Further Learning
Learn more about: Life, Abortion, Cloning, End-of-Life Issues, Stem-Cell Research,