American Abortion Opinions Remain Consistent

Latest Marist Poll regarding “Americans’ Opinions on Abortion” finds most Americans continuing to agree that abortion in the United States should be limited and that federal tax dollars should not go to fund abortions.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A new Knights of Columbus/Marist Poll released today shows that most Americans favor restrictions on abortion within the United States. An increasing proportion of Americans oppose tax dollars going to support abortions abroad. This survey, commissioned by the Knights of Columbus, shows significant areas of consensus on matters of abortion.

“While the number of people who identify as ‘pro-life’ and ‘pro-choice’ tends to fluctuate with the public debate, when given a broader choice of policy options, there is a strong consensus among Americans on abortion, says Dr. Barbara Carvalho, Director of The Marist Poll. Survey results reveal support for abortion restrictions and an aversion for use of taxpayer funding for abortions abroad.”

“Amidst the harsh political divides in our country, clear bipartisan majorities support abortion restrictions and do not want their tax dollars paying for abortion abroad. Our
polling has shown consistently over the past decade that policies that promote abortion on demand paid for by taxpayers are divisive and out of step with American public
opinion,” stated Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus.

“The American people show consensus and restraint on this issue, and we hope that our elected officials and policy makers will heed this call for unity when there is far too much that divides us in our politics today,” added Anderson.

Key Findings:

• More than three quarters of Americans (76%), including a majority who identify as pro-choice, want significant restrictions on abortion.

• 77% of those polled either “oppose” or “strongly oppose” using tax dollars to support international abortion - this is up from 75% who answered similarly each of the past two years. (Democrat - 55%, Republican - 95%, Independent - 85%)

• Only 19% of Americans either “support” or “strongly support” funding abortions outside the US, while another 4% are unsure.

• Only 19% of Americans either “support” or “strongly support” funding abortions outside the US, while another 4% are unsure.

• Even among those who identify themselves as “pro-choice” in the current poll, over six in 10 (64%) say they are opposed to using tax dollars to support abortion in other countries.

• A majority of Americans (58%) oppose using taxpayer money to fund abortions within the United States. (Democrat - 31%, Republican - 83%, Independent - 65%)

This survey of 1,173 adults was conducted January 11th through January 13th, 2021 by The Marist Poll sponsored and funded in partnership with The Knights of Columbus. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the United States were contacted on landline or mobile numbers and interviewed in English or Spanish by telephone using live interviewers. Telephone numbers were randomly selected based upon a list of telephone exchanges from throughout the nation. The exchanges were selected to ensure that each region was represented in proportion to its population. The sample was balanced to reflect the 2017 American Community Survey 1-year estimates for age, gender, income, race, and region. Results are statistically significant within ±3.5percentage points.

For more information on the poll, please see:

http://www.kofc.org/en/resources/news-room/polls/kofc-americans-opinions-onabortion012021.pdf

http://www.kofc.org/en/resources/news-room/polls/kofc-national-survey-withtables012021.pdf

About the Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus is one of the world’s leading fraternal and service organizations with 2 million members in more than 16,000 parish-based councils. During the past year, Knights around the world donated more than 77 million service hours and $187 million for worthy causes in their communities. The organization also offers extensive life insurance services to members and their families, resulting in more than $114 billion of life insurance in force. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors offers investment services to individuals and institutions in accord with Catholic social teaching and has over $26 billion in assets under management. From helping children in need, to providing wheelchairs for the disabled, to helping stock food banks, to offering top-rated and affordable insurance products to its members, to creating a legacy of giving, the Knights of Columbus has supported families and communities for more than 138 years. To learn more please visit us at kofc.org.