June 11, 2015

5 facts about abortion

More than four decades after the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, opponents and supporters of abortion rights are still battling over the issue in court. The most recent salvos were fired in New Orleans on June 9, when the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Texas law that requires abortion clinics in the state to meet rigorous health and safety standards. Abortion opponents say the law is necessary to protect the health and safety of women. But abortion rights supporters contend the statute is intended to make it impossible for most abortion providers in Texas to remain open; they plan to ask the Supreme Court to review the 5th Circuit’s ruling.

Meanwhile, public opinion on abortion has held relatively steady, with Americans roughly divided on the issue. Here are a few key facts about Americans’ views on the topic, based on recent Pew Research Center polling:


2Growing Opposition to Abortion in the SouthThere is a growing regional divide in opinions about abortion. Three-quarters of New Englanders say that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while four-in-ten residents of South Central states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas) say the same. Many states have enacted new abortion restrictions in recent years, and challenges to several of those laws are making their way through the courts.

3According to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights, 15 states enacted 26 new abortion restrictions in 2014, substantially fewer than the 22 states that enacted 70 restrictions the year before. Still, from 2011 to 2014, 231 abortion restrictions were enacted, while 189 were enacted during the previous decade (2001-2010). In Texas, the number of abortion clinics operating in the state has dropped from 41 in 2012 to 18 today in the wake of a number of abortion laws enacted in recent years.



Note: This is an update to a post originally published Jan. 22, 2014.

Category: 5 Facts

Topics: Abortion


Leave a Comment



  1. Romans Road2 months ago

    Abortion kills human life. We must resist it. It is the single biggest mass killing phenomenon in human history. Doctors deceiving mothers and killing their children.

    Obviously people need to be educated on the reality of life within the womb. What saddens me is the apathy of many, lulled to sleep by constant entertainment. Meanwhile those who take a stand are hushed my a false consensus.

  2. Romans Road2 months ago

    Abortion ends life.

    1. Jim Love2 months ago

      Hey abortion makes life if you think about it.

  3. Beautiful3 months ago

    this is very useful information for the children around the world today and girls if you feel this is something you need to go through just make sure this isn’t going to be something you will regret later in life.

  4. Kay4 months ago

    Do you know how the Supreme Court came to legalize abortion in 1973? By writing the opinion that the word “person” in the US Constitution did not apply to the unborn. That is shocking. The US Supreme Court ruled in the Dred Scott case in 1857 that the word “person” did not apply to black slaves. The German courts ruled in the 1930’s that the word “person” did not apply to Jews. Congratulations, America, you have added a third party to the “nonperson” category, in the choice of legal “nonperson” status that puts you on the side of former slavery supporters and Nazis.

    1. J4 months ago

      Kay, just curious if you could find a source for the 1930s German decision you mentioned? I’m not disagreeing with you…just found it interesting but never heard that before. Thanks!

      1. Leon Davis3 months ago

        Look up the word “untermensch”. Means the same thing as “subhuman”. An animal with no soul. According to Nazis, the Jew was a being without a soul.
        The US Supreme Court ruled that way regarding the human fetus. A being without a soul.
        But the human fetus does indeed have a soul.
        When the sperm invades the egg, the soul is born. Meister Eckhart called it “the little soul spark”. The ancient Greeks called it “animae”.
        But for all that, throughout history, children have been treated badly: inside the womb, or out.

  5. Anna5 months ago

    When Jews went to the gas chamber, the ones who challenged Hitler were also exterminated. Eyes were turned then, because it didn’t involve ‘them’, the silent majority. Murder of any sort is inescapably a moral decision. The life that is being defended in this discussion concerning the unborn, is being raised, as that innocent and new life does not have the capacity to fight for their lives. If abortion is not a moral choice, then consequently murder is not a moral choice; and we all know murder is wrong. On another note, defending the constitution of the US is most definitely the duty of its citizens. As we know it begins with every single person is entitled to life….ah yes. Life. then liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

    1. Elly3 months ago

      Hey there Anna:) I am doing a persuasive essay for school on why abortion is wrong (it took a lot of convincing to be allowed to write on such a touchy subject so I would like to do really well on it) would it be okay if I were to quote you in my paper? Thanks :)

  6. Gigi5 months ago

    We should stop arguing over abortion it is legal period. Let’s start outlawing these ridiculous mythologies that demand to be pushed on people who have enough sense not to believe in them. Please keep your personal choice in fairy tales out of my uteruse. If you don’t want to have an abortion then don’t. It’s just that simple. But don’t try to dictate to others that they must surrender their bodies to your will. Anyone who believes a woman should be forced to give birth because the Bible says we should reproduce is genuinely disturbed. Do you believe women who choose not to have sex with men should be raped and forced to carry an offspring? The world is overpopulated already these religious fanatics reproducing at an astronomical rate are going to be the downfall of society.

    1. Pro-life3 months ago

      Someone just broke into your house to murder you. You call the police because your life is at stake and that is what people do in those situations. The police will not come to help you, however, because they believe they should not have to “surrender their bodies” to save yours. But in the real world, not your fairy tale world where people apparently don’t believe that all life is valuable, the cops will come because that is the right thing to do. Just like you don’t kill an unborn baby, just because a pregnancy might add a little stress to your life because that is the right thing to do. Do you know how many rape victims actually get abortions? You should look it up because you will be VERY surprised. It is next to nothing. Even so, that is a terrible reason because that woman who was raped went through a very traumatizing experience and a baby, her baby, would bring so much love and joy into her life that she would need after that horrifying experience. I understand this may not be the case for everyone, and that is why there is adoption. Pregnancy is not about just the mom. There is a living being inside that woman and that being’s body matters just as much as hers. There are no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it. A life is a life.

    2. Chris2 months ago

      Wowwwww. So using your argument, an atheist can’t possibly be pro-life, huh? Ummm, you will find lots of atheists out there who are uncomfortable with abortion; even liberals. You don’t have to be religious to be opposed to abortion. Even Camille Paglia, who is pro-choice and an atheist, admits abortion is murder; and that liberals need to acknowledge that instead of hypocritically calling it a “blob”. It’s a human life. I think it is hilarious that feminists and liberals don’t have a problem with abortion, but if female infanticide and sex-selective abortion of females became a trend, THEN they will have a problem with abortion. What a bunch of phonies. It is no longer YOUR BODY when another body is involved.

      1. JJ2 months ago

        I wan’t to hear why it’s no longer your body when the fetus is clearly dependent on you. The fetus cannot live on its own but you can. Please tell me how your body and life just no longer matters because there is another one inside you.

  7. yo girl6 months ago

    Abortion SHOULD be illegal in all cases. end of conversation. You wouldn’t like seeing a piece of you and your partner create a little you? We were sent to this Earth to reproduce and leave great memories here, but obviously stupid people on this World don’t take that for granite. unfaithful people all over the world will be treated badly for this mistakes that there doing to little humans that cant defend themselves and speak there own opinion to this unworthy situation.
    AMEN to all those little ones whose worthless parents hurt them. You are in our memories and will fight for those who are coming. ♥

    1. catherinecallaghan4 months ago

      This entire discussion would be moot if we had:
      universally accessible, free birth control.

      It is not logical or reasonable to keep yelling that
      abortion is this or that if we are doing nothing to
      prevent pregnancies in the first place. That should
      be the FIRST order of business.
      Human beings have sex. Let’s all deal with that.
      If we prevent pregnancies, then population increases
      slow down and a lot of costs are reduced:
      Medical care, education, for starters.
      It doesn’t make sense to interfere with access to
      contraceptives since that merely reveals the true
      agenda: trying to control people’s sex lives.

    2. yo gurl3 months ago

      I feel da same way!!!!

    3. sam3 months ago

      that’s not the point it might be nice to see that but what if the girl was raped and she doesn’t have the option of t having the abortion and has a constant reminder of probably the worst night of her life. it should be their option if they want to keep it or not its her body her right to what she does with it. maybe she’s to young for a kid and isn’t ready for one. adoption isn’t a good choice ether 10 in every 4000 kids get adopted and the rest are left to leave in foster homes with nobody there for them. most kids in foster homes end up dropping out of high school ,homeless or using drugs and alcohol. in the end its not your decision on what they do with their bodies its not yours so let it be and let them have the option. instead of judging them on something only they understand at the time its their life their future too.

      1. Romans Road2 months ago

        No child should be killed because their father was a rapist. No mother’s child should be killed just because she was a rape victim. No reason to kill millions of innocent humans.

    4. Romans Road2 months ago

      Abortion should always be illegal. It is mass murder by doctors.

  8. Rochelle6 months ago

    First, I want to say everyone has their own options about any and everything in this world. Many of yall who has commented is pro-choice, personally I’m pro-life. I believe and this is coming from a spiritually point of view; God would not let a woman get prego if he didn’t want that child to grow up and make a change. All the fetus that the woman are killing, how do you know that baby wasn’t going to grow up and make this world a better place. I understand when people say that if a child is raped and get implanted with a baby but you never know why it happen. I understand that it is wrong for that to happen and that the child can have a problem but there is people in this world who cant have babies and would love to take care of one or two. And also the main reason woman have abortion is because they didn’t want it to happen and don’t want to step up and be the responsible one. So i say lets stop Abortion and make it illegal!!!

  9. Mark6 months ago

    I would note that the question including the wording “legal in all or most cases” misses the key differences that I believe divide most Americans. First, “most” is undefined. Does most cases mean only in the first trimester (because that is when more than 80% of abortions take place)? Or does it mean “except during the birth process”? The large majority of Americans support first trimester abortion, but most of our debate lately has been about the second and especially third trimester. I think the key, basic question should be changed to reflect this.

  10. caitlin collier8 months ago

    i think abortion are WRONG!! because i think if you have a baby growing inside you then you shouldn’t have an abortion its like murdering someone

  11. Gary Crum8 months ago

    Over 2000 human hearts are destroyed with sharp objects and powerful suction devices every day in the USA. The issue will not go away because this violence is not a “none-of-our business,” personal autonomy issue, it is a policy of lethal action against a large subset of humanity. I am speaking in a scientific sense, not a religious one.

    Any policy that says one part of the human family is not worthy to be alive in the morning, is an elitist one, and is thus un-American.

    1. Derek J8 months ago

      Speaking your opinion is and should always be welcomed, but please don’t confuse yours or mine as being “scientific”. And since you mentioned it, being elitist and believing ones personal views should dictate what anyone else is legally allowed to do, is in fact quite American.

      But I digress….Abortion may be morally wrong in many peoples views, but as the above article points out, there is a significant difference between what is morally right, and what is law. Our laws can be created to govern small everyday issues in our lives, but they are also necessary sometimes to handle the “worst case scenario”.

      Telling a woman who has been raped and impregnated that she has no option of how to handle the future of herself or her unborn child because of your beliefs sounds pretty elitist to me.

      1. Bencher7 months ago

        You did a great job of spouting off the Left’s talking points, but the fact is the law is violated daily. You’ve simply buried your head in the sand because you believe your ideology is being fulfilled. You’ve actually fallen prey to the classic Dem straw man that usually is about as deep as their arguments go these days. Most Americans can stomach an abortion for the health of the mother as well as in cases of rape an incest. But that is not how abortion is practiced in this country. If you ask is abortion should be legal in all cases, the percentages in favor flip to about 30%. You simply turn away like Dems do as a rule to the unethical as long as it assuages their ideology.

        1. Derek J6 months ago

          First please take note that my comment brought up nothing about dem v repub, or left v right. Your choice to base most of your reply on political bias clearly speaks to your inability to actually “reply” to my previous comment, let alone read the above article which is what informs these comments.

          In fact the only sentence that you used plain information and numbers (regarding support of abortion in all cases being around 30%) completely contradicts the percentage listed in the article above. If you choose to debate the statistics that the article provides, so be it, but please site your sources and bring your fight against PEW.

        2. Castalia6 months ago

          So it is wrong for a 12 year old whose step father raped her and who will die before she can give birth, killing the fetus along with the child-mother, to get an abortion and save the life of the child/mother/rape victim? So it is wrong to save the life of a woman with severe gestational disorders who will die before she can deliver a viable infant?

          Do you know that most abortions are performed on married women with either medical disorders or other inability to deliver a live child? … and many more are performed on married women who cannot support a child. Most women who get abortions already have one or more child already.

          Did you know that abortion DIDN’T BEGIN WITH ROE VS WADE? AND IT WON’T STOP WHEN IT BECOMES ILLEGAL. All that making abortion legal did was make it so women don’t have to go to back street butchers or use wire coathangers to attempt an abortion.

          Did you know that a fetus can’t feel pain until after 24 weeks?

          Calling a fetus a child is like calling unbaked batter a cake. It’s not a cake till you bake it and not a child till it’s born – or at the very least until it can survive outside the body.

        3. Castalia6 months ago

          With legal abortion women who would otherwise die in childbirth or pregnancy can survive.

          One of the reason our infant mortality rates have dropped is because of legalized abortion.

          One of the reason fewer women die in childbirth or from complications of pregnancy is because of legalized abortion.

          Most women who get abortions are married and already have one or more children.

          Abortions didn’t begin when they became legal. They have been with us ever since we grew brains large enough to be able to project a consequence of delivering an infant… for instance a negative answer to the question, “how the will I feed it?”

          Abortion won’t go away if they are made illegal. They will just become dangerous and traumatic again.

          Don’t you dare talk about morality and don’t you dare call yourself pro-life. You are only pro fetus.

          Children still have to be delivered, (which costs money) fed (which also costs money), educated (there is that money thing again – and if you say public education is free, you haven’t seen the state and federal bills for it – or raised a kid through the public schools systems). And none of that takes into account the health risks to many women.

          Take the case (yes, a real case) of the 12 year old who was raped by her step father and who died before the fetus could even develop to a stage where it could survive on it’s own. She lived in a country where ALL abortion was illegal and despite the testimony of her doctor that she would not survive, she was denied an abortion. How about the young woman who died during pregnancy because she was not permitted to get an abortion in spite of the fact that her doctor predicted it would happen… and of course the fetus died as well. These are real cases… and there are many, many like this.

          If you don’t like abortion support the biggest preventative of abortion – access to inexpensive birth control and sex education… one of the other functions of Planned Parenthood, by the way.

          If you don’t like abortion get a vascectomy and take responsibilty for your own procreation and don’t leave it up to the woman.

          Because the biggest prevention of abortion is the prevention of conception.

          When men can suffer the health consequences of feeding another being from their own bodies (malnutrition, diabetes, anemia…. to name just a few) and all the things that go along with it – then they will have a viable voice in this conversation. While men may have input on any decision they are directly involved in, the decision is the woman’s with her doctor’s input.

          You don’t own a fetus in a woman’s body – or the body it’s carried in – any more than you have a say in whether she donates her organs to science or to save a life. It’s called “bodily autonomy” – it means a person has a right to say what use their body is put to. It’s why rape is wrong no matter what the circumstances.

          Pregnancy is a damn dangerous thing, and while some women skate through it easily, there are many who don’t fare so well….so unless you are willing for someone to come in and harvest your organs while you are still using them…Pardon me, Gary and Bencher. You don’t know what the Hades you are talking about.

  12. Julian Bell9 months ago

    I am somewhat indifferent on abortion. I am 100% pro-choice, but my indifference comes from the fact that it is a settled issue. We had Roe vs. Wade decades ago, and we should move on. I’m tired of these conservatives who insist on resurrecting this settled issue and keep trying to strip women of their right to their own bodies.

    1. Romans Road2 months ago

      Abortion purposefully kills humans (that is settled). So what isn’t settled? Curious :)

  13. Nickkie10 months ago

    Only in one case would I see abortion is the choice is incest rape. That is the only reason I would ever consider it. If I was raped by some guy I’ll never see again I would still keep the child because it is My Child no matter what he/she is still my child.

  14. priyadharshini12 months ago

    Hi Mate,

    I do request you all to gothrough the stats abortion in graphical representation here.,


    1. Anonymous3 months ago

      I like the way you worded that, saying I would, instead of everyone should. I think this is a personal issue, if someone believes that abortion is the best in option in their situation then so be it.

      1. Romans Road2 months ago

        Too bad your “personal decision” killed another human being.

  15. Fred Lowe1 year ago

    Pew Research has a most interesting blog on this subject. I see that the responses are from a wide variety of backgrounds and faith beliefs or none at all. This is what I think:
    1. America is a free country; that is you are free to pursue whatever enterprise or work that is legal within the rights established by the constitution and duly elected governing bodies, from local civic jurisdictions and court systems all the way to the Congress of the United States and the Supreme Court which must make decisions from time to time about what is actually legal in this country. We MUST obey the laws or be put under penal restraint or death until justice is considered done.
    2. The Bible clearly gives each human being the privilege to CHOOSE: 1. whether he or she will obey the requirements of scripture from the Christian Bible consisting of both Old and New Testaments; or 2. NOT to obey the Laws as detailed. The Old Testament scripture, which was a legal document for the young Hebrew nation, depended upon immediate punishment of those things that hindered the community. The punishments ranged from animal sacrifice all the way to death depending upon the nature of the crime. We of the faith community in America say “choose life; choose obedience to GOD’S law.” Joshua chose and stated: “as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”
    3. The New Testament does not eliminate the Law but gives the lawbreaker an opportunity to “repent” (that is to change or stop the offending behavior) and be forgiven. Regarding abortion I believe that there is much of which to repent not only the act of abortion but many other hurts and crimes that yes even we Christians may find ourselves guilty of. And yes, if we as a people and a nation repent of taking innocent life that too can be forgiven.
    4. Abortion is Legal in the United States of America, I wish it were not. To me it is very sad that the reported number of infants (57,000,000) have had their lives taken from them; even in ONE death of an innocent is difficult to remain silent.
    5. Hypothetically we would talk about a young woman who had gotten “herself into trouble and was expecting (you know what!)” Then it was considered the right thing to do for the father to marry the young woman, be responsible for the outcome and take care of his new family. Of course NOT MANY would DO THAT, but that was considered the ethic about 60 years ago. If the figures that Pew Research reports on how the faithful feel about this issue then I must say that we in the Church have fallen down on our mission to tell the truth about God and how He feels about SIN and what He has done about Sin. Could the abortion story be alleviated if the Church demonstrated Grace to all sin?
    6. In the case of pregnancy resulting from sexual relations outside of wedlock God has only one view: It is a SIN. Sin of any kind whether stealing, murder, lying, anger, profaning the NAME of God, cursing God or another individual. All Sin is worthy of DEATH which is separation from God. Eternal Death, forever in a really awful place we call HELL, where you are not as someone once said, “Holding your breath forever” but are conscious IN a truly awful environment of torture and pain FOREVER. This is not a place I want to visit nor do I want any human being to go there! HELL IS REAL!
    7. There is a way out! IT’S CALLED THE GOOD NEWS! Jesus Christ died for all of the sins of mankind. He Himself, Truly God in the Flesh died for all of us, for we have ALL sinned and fallen short of His glory! Jesus said if you believe in me I will save you from your Sins. One of my very best friends came into this world as the result of the rape of his mother! How many best friends could have been in that huge number reported? C’mon CHURCH! Tell ALL the people the really GOOD NEWS about forgiveness!

  16. Paul J. Dobrowolski1 year ago

    In light of the recent published poll of AAAS scientists and the US public, I would like to recommend that the Pew Research Center poll scientists, especially embryologists, and the American public about when they believe a human life begins. A series of questions can be put forth concerning this issue that would get around the politics and bias that usually accompany his issue.
    My belief is that 100% of embryologists will agree that science supports the fact that a human life truly begins at the moment of conception.
    Thank you.

    1. Tammy England8 months ago

      I believe that also.

  17. James r. Richardson1 year ago

    If a person delivers a baby at 5 months and takes a knife and stabs it, this is murder. But if the same baby is in her uterus it is okay to kill it. I guess it is a question of geography. Sad

    1. Araceli Salazar9 months ago

      why is it ok

  18. Colleen Harper1 year ago

    I would be interested to see a statistical comparison by region of the approval/disapproval of abortion compared side-by-side to comprehensive sex education vs. abstinence-only education, teen pregnancy rates and availability of contraception. These four and the rate of divorce by region, I think, would be quite enlightening. It would reveal greater insights into regional attitudes toward sexuality

  19. mb1 year ago

    It would be interesting if the research reflected the percentages by sex. Do men and women share the same views.

    1. Michael Lipka1 year ago

      Thanks for your comment. Views on abortion by sex and other factors can be seen here: people-press.org/2014/06/12/abor…

      Michael Lipka

  20. t smith1 year ago

    if the anti abortion folks were ALSO anti war, because of the killing they would have a somewhat consistent position; but they are not really concerned about “life”they want to punish women for having sex, by making them have children (that they probably cannot afford) and suffer for the next 20 years raising unwanted children.
    i have lived around these types of people and their intellectual leaders are lying hypocrites,
    the masses are generally stupid and lying to themselves about their real motivations.
    has anyone ever heard these folks wailing over the loss of life in the middle east, or how about in Nigeria the other day(2000 folks) or anywhere else in america from lack of health care or lack of economics??? etc?

  21. Amy P1 year ago

    If only 62% of Americans know the Roe v. Wade is “about abortion,” how many do you think know what it really is? So how valuable is the stat that 63% think it should not be overturned? Many incorrectly think that overturning Roe v. Wade would make abortion illegal. It would not. It would mean that the 1972 supreme court would was in error to declared abortion a constitutionally protected right under the right to privacy. It would then allow states to create common sense abortion legislation based on the vote of the people. It would allow for legal restrictions that are the will of the people based on referendums such as illegalizing late term abortions or beyond which a fetus feels pain. I’m all for it. It was an incorrect judicial decision.

  22. Bill Bohlender1 year ago

    Abortion is killing a baby. Christians believe that there is a God Who revealed himself to us as the Lord Jesus Christ. Killing a baby is murder, which God has prohibited. This is not news, but it has to be reiterated over and over, because so many people do not get it.

    1. tesmith1 year ago

      is this the same god who wrote these rules?

      Kill Witches


      Kill Homosexuals

      Kill Fortunetellers


      Death for Hitting Dad


      Death for Cursing Parents



      Death for Adultery


      Death for Fornication

      1. C Smith12 months ago

        Just wow! Thank you for your post.

      2. C Johns11 months ago

        You have to recognized though, most Christians use the King James version of the bible, which has no mention of any of these comments as harsh as said here. It might say “they be damned to hell,” but it does not say put to death. The bible you are using is an incorrectly translated bible according a vast majority of Christian religions.

        1. D Pach9 months ago

          You have to recognize that apparently you don’t even read your own Bible. From the KJV Exodus ch21:




      3. Ravis10 months ago

        You might want to reference the New Testament.

      4. Tammy England8 months ago

        These are Old Testament laws. We no longer live under the law but we live under grace. But the laws show just how serious God is about sin. When Jesus came down to earth he took the sins of everyone, past, present and future upon himself and died for all of our sins, then he set us free from the law. All we must do is accept the sacrifice he made out of his love for us. If we believe that he is the son of God and ask him to live in our hearts, then we receive the Holy Spirit who lives in us and gives us guidance and understanding. So we live by grace through faith.

      5. Romans Road2 months ago

        tesmith, he is a God of Justice and Mercy. The same God who said “Love your Enemies” and who, when asked how a stoning should be applied replied that only the sinless could kill the sinner for justice. He saved the life of the adulteress, by taking the punishment the adulter, homosexual, liar, God hater, baby killer upon himself so if they repent and believe they will be saved.

        But if you reject his mercy, you can only bear the justice. Turn from opposing God and loving baby killing; Trust him for your salvation from your sinfulness.

        He will justly destroy those who killed innocent babies, and he will lovingly forgive those murderers who turn to him and trust him with all their hearts!

    2. Cady1 year ago

      It’s not that people don’t get it, it’s that they don’t believe in what you believe. You may think you’re right but you have no proof, and don’t you dare say “The bible is proof enough” no.
      It is the woman’s body, it’s her choice on whether she wants to have an abortion.
      “If you don’t want a child, then put it up for an adoption”
      You see, most women can’t do this because their body is still being affected. They don’t want to go through a process that has a very good percentage of their body being ruined when they won’t even keep the baby. Butt out of peoples privacy honestly this whole debate is just dumb.

    3. Pro-choice2 months ago

      “Abortion is killing a baby” No, abortion is killing a fetus.

  23. Peg1 year ago

    There has always been abortion but when it is illegal women die. There are many reasons why women seek abortions. Should the government be making decisions about families? Where does this desire to control women go…Margaret Atwood told it best.

    1. Anguss1 year ago

      The purpose of government is to make rules to ensure society is civil, i.e. it is illegal to murder. Government intrudes on women’s rights as it does men’s and children’s when it feels it has to in order to maintain a civil society. The real question is how far and how deep does it go? An unborn child also has rights. Calling an unborn a child or fetus or anything does not change what it is. At some point it has a physical heart beating and can feel pain. At what point in the development, should it have the same rights as any other born being? I believe it has a soul from day one, but this is not provable and therefor more arguable. In the back of your mind and in your soul I believe you know the truth.

    2. Thomas R1 year ago

      Malta’s maternal mortality rate is significantly lower than ours. Chile’s is only about 20% higher and it’s a less developed nation.

      It’s said that illegal abortions account for something like 15-17% of maternal deaths, I believe, but it might be hard to know if legal abortions would be especially safe in many of those nations. Many to most of the studies done on this matter are by abortion-rights organizations. Neutral studies on the matter are very difficult to find.

      1. Mickey6 months ago

        Considering that in the United States, 20-25% of all the pregnancies in a given year are terminated, I don’t think our lack of abortion is the cause of our high maternal mortality rate.

  24. Marti1 year ago

    It looks like most people in favor of abortion live down south so I think the ones that live in other states should move down there.

  25. eric burns1 year ago

    What’s wrong with true Catholics abstaining from abortions and leaving the people who make their own decisions in peace? Whenever has an atheist forced anyone to do anything?

    1. Romans Road2 months ago

      Killing humans is not a personal choice.

      Abortion is forcing death on another human being.

  26. Virginia1 year ago

    Who is protecting the life of the unborn baby who also has a right to life? Has our society degraded so low that there is no conscience left to see that this is wrong? People can call it a political issue, a religious issue, a personal issue, an economic issue or whatever issue they want but they are all excuses for not having to be responsible. The solution to a life issue is not death. Women who have had an abortion can suffer from Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS) years later so this is a very serious matter for baby and mother. Have we heard so much about personal “rights” that we have totally forgotten about a whole population (57,000,000 have been aborted since Roe v Wade) of children who have been murdered? My heart goes out to the women who suffer from PAS as they didn’t know it would happen. It isn’t over that one fateful day in the abortionist office, there are consequences years later. So people can make excuses to justify taking the life of a baby by saying it would amount to anything anyway but shame on all of us for accepting that as some sort of justification in an effort to play God.

  27. betina1 year ago

    I do not feel that any religious group should have an impact or voice on this issue. A religious group does not have a legal vote, nor should any religious group’s beliefs govern the entire population. There are many non religious, and non-Christian people in the USA and they should not have their rights infringed or limited by any religious group. Also the only people who should be able to vote on this issue are women, as they are the ONLY ones impacted. Men cannot get pregnant and therefore they should not have a voice in this matter. Whether a woman chooses to terminate a pregnancy should be her decision and not limited by any government entity. The government has no right or reason to limit a woman’s choice. Presently the right wing Christian men in politics are waging a war on women and women’s rights and it must stop. Every child born should be a wanted child, and a child that is given a chance at a better life. If a potential mother knows that she cannot provide for a child she should have the choice to terminate the pregnancy. Women that are rape victims or incest survivors should not be denied the opportunity to choose. They should not be forced to carry and raise the child of her attacker. That is a horrid and destructive form of mental and emotional torture to relive your attack every time you look at your own child. We should not be forced to continue to fight for a right that was won almost 45 years ago. We should be moving on to current issues like climate change and renewable energy. Stop allowing conservatives to force their beliefs on the general population. If you don’t want an abortion, then don’t have one. Don’t think for a second that your personal choice gives you the right to decide what my choice will be. You don’t know my personal circumstances and you are NOT qualified to choose for me.

  28. Edd Doerr1 year ago

    Religious right opposition to freedom of choice on abortion must be based on patriarchalism or misogyny, as it is not based on the Bible, which does not condemn abortion. Indeed, what the Bible does say (Gen 1:27 and 2:7) is that humans were created “in the image of God”. As “God” is not flesh and blood and DNA, and personhood begins at birth, this jibes with what we know from science, that the brain is not wired up for consciousness until sometime after 28-32 weeks of gestation. About 90% of abortions are performed by 13 weeks, 99% by 20 weeks, and the remainder only for serious medical reasons. If Republicans and conservatives decry big government, it is strange that they would want to expand Big Brother government to have the power to restrict the religious freedom and rights of conscience of women. — Edd Doerr (arlinc.org)

    1. Mick6 months ago

      I don’t see how wanting to protect the life of a human is patriarchal in any way. The right to life supersedes the right to do as you please. And don’t tell me “but you don’t care about it after it’s born” , because I do, an awful lot.

      And for the record, this is a fetus at 20 weeks (not graphic)

      I don’t understand how you could not consider that a human being. Why do you consider birth so special that a few minutes before birth you could technically terminate it, but after birth it’s suddenly a person. The organism that is growing and developing after birth is the same organism that was growing and developing before birth. A fetus is a state of developement, just like baby, toddler, teen,etc. It is not some non-human creature.

      And no, I am not religious, I disagree with bible thumpers in many ways, but not on this issue.

    2. Romans Road2 months ago

      Secularism is upheld by mass killings like Mao Zedong’s 60,000,000 and the countless millions murdered by abortion.

  29. sammieb511 year ago

    Were the respondents to this poll asked if they had abortions, knew anyone who did and what their race was? I wonder because it seems to me that LOTS of women, married and single, who get pregnant “accidentally” in their 40’s, select abortion over having another child. I know several who have made this choice, with their spouses right next to them. They were white, upwardly mobile folks.

    I also wonder how racial and economics factor into abortions. I think we would all be surprised to find out that minorities are not the ones flocking to the clinics for this procedure.

    1. Maryhelen1 year ago

      This report is only about whether people are for or against the law on abortion and not who has abortion and also not who is Catholic or any other religion.

  30. betina1 year ago


    1. Romans Road2 months ago

      I do not feel that “Planned Parenthood” should have any voice in this because they don’t have a vote. Their religion of death should be banished.

  31. vicki1 year ago

    I can’t imagine any rational thinking person that would not understand a embryo is living and until it is disturbed by an abortionist; it will grow to be come a human life. Killing it is murder. It does not matter if it is one week or sixty years; a sperm and egg fertilized and growing is still a human being. What is done to it is the same outcome…common sense. Therefore, in our terms today, it IS murder when you kill it.

    1. Maryhelen1 year ago

      That is exactly what a rational human thing person understands because that is science; thus, it is the emotional, righteous, religious unscientific, and irrational thinking persons who say an embryo is a person.

      1. Romans Road2 months ago

        Maryhelen… your philosophical view on what a “person” is, is not any more valid than the Dred Scott view of personhood. What matters is that abortion is the killing of a human being.

  32. Gene Morton1 year ago

    Thank you for the data. There is another bit that would be enlightening. How many times has legislation been introduced into the US Congress, and by whom, and what is its status today. While there seems to be a lot of lip service to controlling or eliminating abortions, there seem to be few actions in Congress about doing something about it.

  33. Skeptic1 year ago

    I am always skeptical about tables that show that certain religious groups are more or less supportive of the pro-choice or pro-life position. For instance, 53% of Catholics consider abortion to be morally wrong. However, this figure hides a great deal of heterogeneity in the degree to which individuals who identify themselves as “Catholic” are active in their faith and adhere to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Among high church-attending Catholics, the “abortion is immoral” percentage is much higher. For those identifying themselves as Catholic but who rarely or never participate in the life of the Catholic Church, the “abortion is immoral” percentage is much lower. This suggests that identification with one denomination/tradition or another is far less important than religiosity or doctrinal belief.

    1. Ray1 year ago

      You are entitled to your skepticism; so are Catholics who are less doctrinaire than your version of the ideal catholic.

    2. Romans Road2 months ago

      Abortion is the killing of a human.

  34. Ken1 year ago

    When did an embryo or even a fetus become a “baby”?
    How many women’s lives have been saved by not being forced by culture or society to go through child birth?

    1. Anguss1 year ago

      How many children/human lives were denied by civil society allowing abortions?

    2. SciGuy21 year ago

      Is not a caterpillar a butterfly in the making? It’s human perception that “draws the line”, not science. DNA unfolding” is not the same as crystal formation. HMmmm…

    3. Thomas R1 year ago

      Umm, pretty much every time it’s not aborted or miscarried a fetus becomes a baby. Even if you’re pro-choice that’s just how it works. It develops into a baby.

      As for women’s lives South Africa did see a decline in maternal mortality on adopting looser abortion laws. However Poland also saw a decline in maternal mortality after adopting stricter abortion laws post-Communism. (Look it up if you doubt it)

    4. Tammy England8 months ago

      If you dont know when a fetus or an embryo becomes a baby, then you shouldn’t kill it. The time to think about these things is before you get pregnant.You mentioned that the babys’ mother wouldn’t have to go through childbirth. You also stated how many women’s lives were saved by these women having abortions. But how many babies lost their lives because the mothers had abortions? The answer to that would be All of them.

    5. Romans Road2 months ago

      You ask,



  35. Halley2 years ago


  36. Ruth Walker2 years ago



    1. E Powell1 year ago

      Reasons given for having abortions in the United States

      Only 2 % of abortion are for anything but convenience.

      1. betina1 year ago

        I sincerely doubt your so called stats are anywhere near the truth. The 2% figure is absolutely ludicrous. Who Johnston? Why should we believe them? Is Johnston another religious based entity/source? Lets not forget the women that cannot afford to raise a child alone. Women still only make about 70 cents on the dollar compared to men. Also many men leave when they find out their wife or girlfriend is pregnant. Lets not forget the fact that we have a over population problem. Your god does not dictate the laws of man. The USA was founded on freedom OF religion, not a Christian god. Read some history on the founding fathers and you will see that I am right. Keep your god out of USA politics and government!

        1. Thomas R1 year ago

          Guttmacher also indicates most abortions, I believe even in the second trimester, are for economic reasons and it’s a respected Pro-Choice source.

          “The most common subreason given was that the woman
          could not afford a baby now because she was unmarried

          One of the reasons “Can’t afford a baby now 73%”

          Health represented more like 12-13% according to them though. This is about the same as “Husband or partner wants me to have an abortion” at 14%.


        2. Mick6 months ago

          Your 70 cents for every dollar reference undermines your entire argument, rational people understand that to be a deceiving statistic.

          Anyway, the man did not once mention religion, it wasn’t even implied, yet you decide to attack him under the presumption that he’s trying to force religion upon you. I agree with you though, religion should be kept far away from politics, Many religious people are pro-life, and sadly use religion to support the cause, but it is not a religious issue. It is instead an issue of whether the state of development (just like baby,toddler,teen,etc) known as a fetus is any less human than everyone else.

          Yes I know the world sucks, with scumbag dads abandoning their wives and whatnot, but that’s no excuse for this sort of stuff. I’m sure there are some single mothers out there that would like to smother their crying 2 year old to death, but we don’t allow that.

    2. Gisele Toumi1 year ago


      1. Jay1 year ago

        You have quite the twisted view of aborting a fetus. Good thing such a view is an individual’s opinion and not up to the law to decide, hmm?

        1. Ginny1 year ago

          It’s too bad someone’s concern for the life of a baby is viewed as being twisted. Aborting a fetus unto itself is brutal. Anytime you kill it is brutal and like it or not that is a baby being ripped from the mother’s womb. I am amazed how over 57 millions babies have been aborted since Roe v Wade, most out of convenience, that there is so much focus on finding the exceptions trying to make it all okay. If we have any sort of moral conscience left in this country we would acknowledge that wrong is wrong and fix it.

      2. Hereward Pooley1 year ago

        I can’t understand why people who oppose early abortion do not also oppose contraception.

        1. eagle1 year ago

          there is a vital difference–before / after Fertilization.

      3. Maryhelen1 year ago

        I am shocked that all those who would force a women to have children they don’t want are so totally righteous, but insensitive, uncaring and no compassion for the many children who are born unwanted. Just look at child welfare and see all the babies and even grown children that were born to parent who didn’t want them. These are the same people who would then say the parents are , don’t want children don’t have them, so they end up poor, uncared for, and miserable. No connection there, duh

      4. Kathy Walker1 year ago

        How can anyone say that abortion is wrong because murder should not be legal , or that it’s poisoning another human being . Well isn’t that what our death penalty is ,when they manage to get it right and actually kill an inmate who may or may not be guilty. This is an actual grown human being enduring the suffering ,not a fetus who isn’t mature enough to feel what an adult feels. And abortion is not dismembering a fetus who can’t survive on it’s own. However, if our country brings back the firing squad , that would constitute dismemberment. I hate to think of life without a choice for a pregnant girl or woman.

        1. Ashley5 months ago

          False. That murderer made the choice to murder knowing the potential consequence of execution. Unborn children are having their choices (every choice they could have ever made) stripped from them.

    3. Aaron B.1 year ago

      what sort of people think they should decide things for anyone but themselves? I guess the kind of people who have their children murdered because having those children would be inconvenient at this point in their lives would fall into that category. they are deciding the issue of life or death for someone besides themselves, so there is a prime example of the type of people you were asking about.

    4. Romans Road2 months ago

      Whether legal or illegal a successful abortion always kills someone.

  37. Jenna Jackson2 years ago


  38. louise horan2 years ago


  39. Bill Bryan2 years ago

    ABORTION STATS: HIGHLY SUSPECT! Lots of lying by women obtaining
    abortions—especially by Catholics and Evangelicals—who most probably
    have much higher abortion rates due to their strictures against using any
    form of Birth Control.

    issues like abortion. The message being: USING BIRTH CONTROL PILLS
    IS THE MORAL EQUIVALENT OF MURDER—So says the Catholic Church
    and other leaders of Conservative Christian groups. Anyway:

    could be performed in SE US.


    were probably Catholic or Conservative Christian.

    Demographic Form.

    1. K Brown1 year ago

      it’s scriptures

  40. TJ Krest2 years ago


    1. Nahman2 years ago


      1. Niky2 years ago

        Nahman…I really agree with your opinion.

      2. betina1 year ago

        TJ Crest makes a better point. Who will feed, clothe, and raise all of those unwanted children? Nahman are you volunteering to do it?

      3. DrT Happy1 year ago

        Well I really think you should adopt all those babies and care for them. I am up f or you to do that rather than abort. So step up there Nahman and Niky. Put your views into action. All against abortion adopt at the clinics and hospitals. Step up. If you adopt each one, no more abortions. Your problem is solved. And we know you will not do that. You would rather force people, who don’t want to produce a baby, to to “adopt”. And they don’t want to “adopt”. So it is up to you.
        And as was said above, It has been going on since humans began and will continue. Humans kill and turn their backs on other humans. Religion, race, belief system, Humans kill.

  41. Barbara2 years ago


    1. Selfish2 years ago



      1. louise horan2 years ago

        Your absolutely right I agree on your opinion

      2. betina1 year ago

        Dear Selfish,
        You are the one that is being selfish to think that your choices should rule or dictate another persons life. You need to pray on this and realize that you don’t have the right to make decisions for another person. You cannot play god and you clearly don’t have the tools for the job.

    2. Choice for Reproductive rights?2 years ago







      1. Rob Mac2 years ago


      2. Hereward Pooley1 year ago

        At the start of your article you say “The Pro abortion minority”. If you looked at the Pew research article above you would see that people who are “The Pro abortion” are actually in the majority and have been for some time.

    3. betina1 year ago

      Barbara, you are absolutely right. You made very good points and I like that you brought up that Pro Choice is actually the majority even according to the conservative’s published stats. The right wing needs to stop trying to control everyone. Take care of yourself and stop trying to “play god” for everyone else.

    4. Romans Road2 months ago

      Barbara: “kill people to deal with overpopulation” effectively. Sad you feel that way.

  42. Bryan Barrett2 years ago


    1. Kathy Kennedy2 years ago


      1. Think2 years ago





      2. E Powell1 year ago

        We still are murdering about 1 million a year.

        the United State of Amerika, murdering our babies since 1973.

  43. Elfriede Moore2 years ago


  44. John Balird2 years ago


    So media polls this uninformed population instead of educating it.

    Civilization deserves what is happening to it.

    1. John Balird2 years ago


    2. You want to kill 4.5 billion people?2 years ago

      You want to kill 4.5 billion people?





    3. Amanda Polk2 years ago


    4. overpopulated2 years ago


  45. Sue2 years ago


  46. Jack2 years ago


  47. Ron2 years ago

    Why not use “pro-life”?
    It isn’t.

  48. Mrs Rev Tom2 years ago


  49. See Abortion and Euthanasia. – Think Eugenics and Extermination of the most poor, vulnerable, and unwanted classes2 years ago


    That is to say –






    1. Ron2 years ago









        1. Ron2 years ago







          1. Stephen O’Brien2 years ago


    2. sammieb511 year ago

      Your facts are wrong — the majority of abortions go to white folks, coming from middle to upper class families. They are not going to minorities as is commonly represented (neither are food stamps or disability — it goes to mostly white folks). LOTS of women in their 40’s get abortions, married or single, with their spouse and/or partner standing next to them. In fact it could be said that the reason pasty old white men promote pro-life is simply a matter voting demographics — not enough white babies being born to middle-upper class families. In short, they are losing their voting block.

      1. tesmith1 year ago

        whoops, THERE IT IS!!!!!
        you hit the nail right on the head along with the fact that inter ethnic marriages are increasing, even to the despised Black minority. and genetically speaking, blonde eves and blue hair are recessive compared to brown eyes and brown / black skin

  50. Troy Jones2 years ago

    after a careless upbringing.

    1. Greed and Injustice2 years ago

      Human life is worth more than money.

  51. Troy Jones2 years ago


    1. Dusty2 years ago


  52. Joan2 years ago

    Why was my comment not printed?

  53. Darlene Clements2 years ago


  54. RICHARD D. STACY2 years ago


  55. KR2 years ago



  56. Patrick Venton2 years ago


    1. Williams Katherine2 years ago





      1. Al Devault2 years ago


  57. Linda Szymanski2 years ago


  58. Susan2 years ago


  59. Mike lipscomb2 years ago


  60. Jean Mundell2 years ago


    1. george2 years ago


    2. Joe2 years ago


  61. Joan2 years ago


  62. Frances Frainaguirre2 years ago


    1. June2 years ago


  63. Janice2 years ago

    A woman’s right to choose, says it all.

    1. george2 years ago


    2. Joe2 years ago


    3. SGK2 years ago

      You mean a woman’s “right” to take a life.

  64. JR2 years ago


    1. fire12 years ago



    2. Williams Katherine2 years ago




      1. SGK2 years ago


      2. william2 years ago


  65. Paul2 years ago


    1. Williams Katherine2 years ago




  66. Robert Reinsel2 years ago


    1. BOB C2 years ago


    2. Joe2 years ago


  67. Mikki Mack2 years ago


  68. Mikki Mack2 years ago


  69. 84% of americans want abortion restricted. Only 9 percent want abortion unrestricted.2 years ago


    The title is:






    The poll in the link I gave above, says:
    But 84% support restrictions on abortion.
    62% say abortion is morally wrong.
    58% of strongly pro choice americans want abortion restricted.

    1. Williams Katherine2 years ago





      How exactly is that creating a viable statistical model?



      1. SGK2 years ago



    Of which the western world media almost unanimously is pro abortion.










    1. Williams Katherine2 years ago









      1. SGK2 years ago


        1. Romans Road2 months ago

          An unborn baby is a unique life, with a distinct genetic design and an individual little life. Removing a wart destroys non-essential cells. Removing a baby requires destroying cells essential for life, such as the brain etc…

          Abortion is a killing unique human life.

    2. Victoria Fleischer2 years ago


      1. Romans Road2 months ago

        abortion is killing an innocent human.

    3. Joe2 years ago


    4. Joe2 years ago

      Outstanding points !! Thank you !!