Poll Shows Majority of Americans Want Conscience Protection on Abortion

Poll

A new survey by the Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll shows that a strong majority of Americans support conscience protection for medical professionals.

As Congress considers the Conscience Protection Act, by nearly 20 points (56 percent to 37 percent), Americans say that medical professionals and organizations should be able to opt out of abortion procedures and coverage. Among registered voters, the results are 57 percent to 36 percent.

“Consistent with our First Amendment guarantees, the American people believe that no person or organization should be compelled to help perform or cover abortion,” said Knights of Columbus CEO Carl Anderson. “It is important that our elected officials continue to protect these important rights, and no American ever be forced to be involved in abortion against their conscience or religious beliefs.”

The survey of 1,009 adults was conducted July 5-12, 2016, by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion and sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Adults 18 years of age and older residing in the continental United States were interviewed on either landline or mobile phones in English using live interviewers. Results for adults are statistically significant within ±3.1 percentage points. The error margin increases for cross-tabulations.