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Thursday, August 03, 2006
POLL: Americans Liberal AND Conservative on Social Issues
For Immediate Release
Contact: Burke Olsen, bolsen@pewforum.org or 202-419-4564
Washington, D.C.—August 3, 2006—Americans cannot be easily characterized as conservative or liberal on today’s most pressing social questions. They are conservative in opposing gay marriage and gay adoption, liberal in favoring embryonic stem cell research and a little of both on abortion.
Despite talk of “culture wars” and the high visibility of activist groups on both sides of the cultural divide, there has been no polarization of the public into liberal and conservative camps. Indeed, public opinion has moved little on these issues in recent years and continues to be mixed and often inconsistent, reflecting a blend of pragmatism and principle. For example, most people say they don’t doubt their own opinion on the most divisive social concern of the day – abortion – but a 66% majority expresses a desire for a middle ground on that issue.
The latest national survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted among 2,003 adults from July 6-19 finds that most prefer that key decisions on such issues as abortion, stem cell research and teaching evolution and creationism be made at the national level rather than each state deciding for itself.
Among the key findings:
Homosexuality
A clear majority (56%) continues to oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry while 35% express support, but just three-in-ten favor a Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages. A growing number of Americans see homosexuality as an innate trait people are born with, and a 49% plurality now believes a person’s sexual orientation cannot be changed. While a slim majority (54%) favors allowing gay couples to enter into civil unions, only 42% believe gay couples should be allowed to adopt children.
Abortion
Abortion continues to split the country nearly down the middle. But the large majority in favor of finding “a middle ground” on the issue extends broadly across the political and religious spectrum. Only one group expressed unwillingness to find a middle way. Two-thirds (66%) of those who support an outright ban on abortion say there should be no compromise. In contrast, two-thirds of those who want abortion to be generally available are ready to seek a compromise.
Stem cell research
A 56% majority continues to believe that it is more important to conduct stem cell research that may lead to new medical cures rather than to avoid destroying the potential life of human embryos involved in the research (32%). For the first time in Pew polling, more white evangelicals now favor stem cell research (44%) than oppose it (40%).
The Morning-After Pill & Birth Control
Americans split 48% to 41% over whether to allow the morning-after pill without a prescription. But by 80% to 17% they believe pharmacists should not be able to refuse to sell birth control pills based on their religious beliefs.
This survey is for immediate release today. It is available online at www.pewforum.org.
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About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.
The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.
Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.
Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777
Contact: Burke Olsen, bolsen@pewforum.org or 202-419-4564
Washington, D.C.—August 3, 2006—Americans cannot be easily characterized as conservative or liberal on today’s most pressing social questions. They are conservative in opposing gay marriage and gay adoption, liberal in favoring embryonic stem cell research and a little of both on abortion.
Despite talk of “culture wars” and the high visibility of activist groups on both sides of the cultural divide, there has been no polarization of the public into liberal and conservative camps. Indeed, public opinion has moved little on these issues in recent years and continues to be mixed and often inconsistent, reflecting a blend of pragmatism and principle. For example, most people say they don’t doubt their own opinion on the most divisive social concern of the day – abortion – but a 66% majority expresses a desire for a middle ground on that issue.
The latest national survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted among 2,003 adults from July 6-19 finds that most prefer that key decisions on such issues as abortion, stem cell research and teaching evolution and creationism be made at the national level rather than each state deciding for itself.
Among the key findings:
Homosexuality
A clear majority (56%) continues to oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry while 35% express support, but just three-in-ten favor a Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages. A growing number of Americans see homosexuality as an innate trait people are born with, and a 49% plurality now believes a person’s sexual orientation cannot be changed. While a slim majority (54%) favors allowing gay couples to enter into civil unions, only 42% believe gay couples should be allowed to adopt children.
Abortion
Abortion continues to split the country nearly down the middle. But the large majority in favor of finding “a middle ground” on the issue extends broadly across the political and religious spectrum. Only one group expressed unwillingness to find a middle way. Two-thirds (66%) of those who support an outright ban on abortion say there should be no compromise. In contrast, two-thirds of those who want abortion to be generally available are ready to seek a compromise.
Stem cell research
A 56% majority continues to believe that it is more important to conduct stem cell research that may lead to new medical cures rather than to avoid destroying the potential life of human embryos involved in the research (32%). For the first time in Pew polling, more white evangelicals now favor stem cell research (44%) than oppose it (40%).
The Morning-After Pill & Birth Control
Americans split 48% to 41% over whether to allow the morning-after pill without a prescription. But by 80% to 17% they believe pharmacists should not be able to refuse to sell birth control pills based on their religious beliefs.
This survey is for immediate release today. It is available online at www.pewforum.org.
*****
About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.
The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.
Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.
Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777
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About Religion Press Release ServicesReligion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others. The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.
Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.
Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777
