SUMMARY: Support for "abortion rights" has fallen sharply during the past year according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Americans are split roughly 50-50 between those who back legal access to abortion and those who oppose it. A year ago 54% of Americans felt abortion should be legal in all or most cases; now only 47% do. At the same time the percent of those who feel abortion should be illegal in all or most cases has risen from 41% to 45%."These data suggest that a number of people have changed their minds in the past year," Gregory Smith, one of the survey's authors said. Support for abortion rights dropped among both men and women, among college-educated people and those less educated, and among people from various religious backgrounds.
Pro-life activists welcomed the findings. "Pro-lifers are making an effective case that all women deserve better than abortion and that every child deserves a chance to be born," said Cathy Ruse of the Family Research Council.
However, Terry O'Neill of the pro-abortion National Organization for Women which rejects religious opposition to abortion called the practice a "blessing" when chosen freely by a woman who "needs it." She cited a violent marriage in her early 20s that she, at one point, thought had produced a pregnancy. "If I had had a baby, I would have been tied to that man for the rest of my life," she said.
Gregory Smith of the Pew Forum suspects the election of pro-choice President Obama may be one cause for the shift in public opinion. Support for abortion rights had been consistent until Pew began noticing a change in public opinion in April, a shift confirmed by the larger study in August. Also, Smith said opponents of abortion feel more strongly about their position than supporters of legal access to abortion.
To read the entire article click on this link to CNN.
COMMENT: More encouraging news for the pro-life community. Our May 18 post examined a Gallup Poll that showed even better news in that 51% of Americans now call themselves pro-life as opposed to 42% who prefer the pro-choice label.
Nevertheless, when you have from 42% to 47% of Americans who believe that abortion should be legal in most or all cases, this shows a lot of work still needs to be done to convince people about the tragedy that abortion represents. Yes, Ms. O'Neill was in a sad situation when she thought she was about to become the mother of a baby whose father was so abusive. Yet, can she really justify taking the life of a baby merely because it would cause her to have bad memories?
The best approach to solving the abortion problem is the Word of God. Once people can be convinced from the Bible (Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 1:5) that God does not approve of the practice, except perhaps when necessary to save the life of the mother, they might be led by the Holy Spirit to change their views.
Only God can create life and only God can morally give permission to take a life. Our continuing efforts to support the right of life for unborn children might also remind people that God alone can also provide the life that never ends, eternal life in heaven. This eternal life is freely available to pro-choice people and pro-life people alike. Of course, it is our prayer and expectation that those who currently hold to the pro-choice position will repent of their sins, begin respecting the right of unborn children to be born, and accept the gift of salvation available only through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
What currently is the average life expectancy in the United States?78.1 years. About 20 people per 100,000 can expect to reach 100 years or more. Only about 25% of longevity is determined by genetics; the rest by lifestyle choices.
Source: Bottom Line Personal (October 1, 2009)
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