For the first time since Gallup began asking this question in 1995, a majority of Americans identify themselves as pro-life:
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.
The May 2009 survey documents comparable changes in public views about the legality of abortion. In answer to a question providing three options for the extent to which abortion should be legal, about as many Americans now say the procedure should be illegal in all circumstances (23%) as say it should be legal under any circumstances (22%). This contrasts with the last four years, when Gallup found a strong tilt of public attitudes in favor of unrestricted abortion.
Of course, prior to Roe v. Wade and in the early days of our nation — before any polls were taken — the vast majority of our citizens knew the obvious: abortion was the taking of an innocent human life. The predecessor to the American Medical Association pushed for statutes on abortion during the mid-19th century — an effort to codify the common law understanding that abortion was murder.
About a decade ago I wrote for the East Valley Tribune that abortion would end in America for the same reason slavery had to end — it violates our nation’s founding principles. We know as a people that we are endowed with certain unalienable rights, including the right to life. Our compassion as a people for the innocent, the vulnerable, the weak — all of these values demand that we work to protect children in the womb.
While the continued movement toward life is a testament to the tireless efforts of pro-life leaders to increase public understanding of the issue, we have much work yet to do.
One fact these Gallup results make clear — we have now elected a President and put in place Democratic political leadership in Congress who are dramatically out of touch with America on this vital issue.
Great article Len.
Here’s the real irony about Obama.
He campaigned as the great unifier, yet, in a little more than 100 days, he has caused a great schism in the Catholic Church via Notre Dame; a university that represents a chuch that has produced the likes of a Fr. Jenkins, ND’s president and a Doug Kmiec, Obama’s Catholic abortion clown front man and, at the same time, produce a saint like this elderly priest in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiz4tfjSuPc
Only a demonically inspired leader could pull this off.
Don’t think that the whole church isn’t next.
God Bless,
Philip A. Schembri, Jr., P.E., M.Th.
“A warrior battling to end legalized abortion”
http://WWW.IXOYE.NAME