Because 1998 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade and Doe vs. Bolton decisions legalizing abortion throughout the entire pregnancy in the United States, a number of new polls were taken of the opinions of the American people on this subject.

The news is good for the pro-life effort.

For example, a New York Times/CBS poll conducted in January of this year showed that since 1989, those who support generally available legal abortion have slipped from 40 to 32 percent.
Those who say it should not be permitted have risen from 18 to 22 percent.

Half the population, according to the poll, considers abortion murder. While the national divide between "pro-life" and "pro-choice" remains, there is nevertheless a movement of opinion that abortion should not be so easy to obtain. Almost half of those polled said it is too easy to get an abortion these days. The poll also showed nearly 80 percent of respondents favoring both parental consent and waiting periods. This strong public sentiment has been reflected in the legislative activity at the state level in the past year, which has far surpassed previous years in the number of pro-life initiatives both introduced and passed.

Some of the reasons given for abortion are losing their strength with the public. The New York Times/CBS poll showed that the number of people who think a pregnant woman should be able
to get a legal abortion if her pregnancy would force her to interrupt her career has dropped from 37 percent to 25 percent. Those who think interruption of education would justify abortion
likewise dropped from 48 to 42 percent.

Another poll conducted at the same time by Wirthlin Worldwide, showed that 70 percent of Americans believe that legal abortion is not necessary for women to pursue various educational and career goals, and that most adults (53 percent) believe that abortion has hindered the relationships between women and men.

Now we know that truth is not determined by polls, and that polls do not constitute the focal point of our attention and efforts. Yet they do reveal that the myth of abortion is beginning to subside. It has to; no lie can live forever.

Polls can also indicate to us strategic clues. It is important, for example, that we put a great deal of emphasis on how easy it is to obtain an abortion in the United States, and how late in the
pregnancy they are performed. These facts will often catch the attention of people who would not necessarily agree that all abortion should be outlawed. Educationally and psychologically, we begin with what people are most concerned about; we start with what will cause them to actively think about the issue and ask questions like, "Why is it so easily obtained ? " and "If the reasons given for abortion are not valid, which reasons are, and why?"

The moral principles at issue in abortion are absolute, but most people arrive at them gradually. According to the polls, they're on their way.

Father Pavone is the International Director of Priests for Life
and an official at the Vatican’s Council for the Family.

Copyright ©1998 Arlington Catholic Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.

This article was published in the Arlington Catholic Herald,
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 607, Arlington, VA 22203; Vol 23, No 40,
dated September 24, 1998, on page 5.
.
E-mail: letters@catholicherald.com
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A note from the Web Master:

It is noteworthy and honorable that some folks are willing to stand up for a ban on Partial-Birth Abortion.  Let us not forget that Abortion is also murder.  We must understand that murder is still murder no matter the method.  Because one method of abortion seems to be horrifying does not justify the other less repugnant methods.  We should be sickened by any Abortion regardless of the method.  The Fifth Commandment spells it out clearly: "Thou shalt not kill."  A fetus is a person, a human being with a God given soul.  Imagine the pain the Lord must feel when any Abortion occurs.  Please, please, please contact your Senator or Congressman to let him/her know how upset you are that Abortions are legal and to pass and support  legislation to stop Partial-Birth Abortions and all other Abortions as soon as possible.

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