OREGON Dr ULLMAN (2nd dist. D.) Fall 1974 Do you believe that abortions should be prohibited through a Yes No ... 22.7% 70.6% 6.7% PENNSYLVANIA KDWARD G. BIESTER, JR. (8th dist. R.) Winter 1973 The Supreme Court recently handed down a decision liberalizing abortion. 59% favor a Constitutional amendment banning abortions 14% favor a Constitutional amendment giving the States the power to R. LAWRENCE COUGHLIN (13th dist. R.) Fall 1973 Do you approve of the Supreme Court decisions on abortion? 61% 26% 13% 1,219-47% 1,130-43% 263-10% 38% 55% JOSEPH M. GAYDOS (20th dist. D.) Summer 1974 "Home phone poll" concerning the liberaliazation of abortion laws Opposed any further easing of abortion laws..... c) Had no opinion on the issue H. JOHN. HEINZ (18th dist. R.) Fall 1973 Do you favor Constitutionally outlawing abortion? Fall 1973 GUS YATRON (6th dist.D.) Fall 1974 Which of the following is closest to your view on abortion? Opposed to abortion on any grounds.... 43.0% 13.0% e) Undecided d) Abortion should be allowed in any instance to protect life or Support the Supreme Court decision, allowing abortion in earlier 11.0% 26.0% 2.0% Do you favor: The Supreme Court's allowing abortions? Yes.. No SOUTH DAKOTA JAMES ABDNOR (2nd dist. R.) September 1973 Abortion: Agree with the recent Supreme Court decision Jiberalizing Ho..... Yes.... Undecided TEXAS 60% 40% 55% 40% 5% BILL ARCHER (7th dist. R.) Spring 1974 Should the individual states be granted the right to pass laws restricting 11 12 RICHARD CRAWFORD WHITE (16th dist. D.) June 1973 Do you agree with the Supreme Court decision establishing the legality Yes.. No.... No opinion VERMONT RICHARD MALLORY (at large R.) Spring 1974 64% 25% Do you believe that the Supreme Court decision that permits women and their doctors to decide about abortions within the first 3 months of pregnancy and allows the State to regulate abortions after 3 months is a reasonable solution? Do you suppost changing the Constitution by adoption of a "right to life" amendment which prohibits abortions except in rare circumstances? The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in 1973 that existing state laws restricting the practice of abortion were unconstitutional. The ruling allows the states to impose restrictions on the medical conditions under which abortions may be performed during the last six months of pregnanacy. There has been a great deal of controversy over this decision and the Congress is now faced with three alternatives: a) It may refuse to approve any Constitutional amendment. This would have the effect of leaving the Supreme Court decision unchanged. 33.8% b) It may approve a Constitutional amendment which would place all regulations of abortions under state jurisdiction. Previous to the Supreme Court decision, the states exercised such jurisdiction. 23.2% c) It may approve a Constitutional amendment which would prohibit abortion except in rare circumstances (this is often call the Right to LIfe amendment.) ROBERT W. DANIEL (4th dist. R.) Summer 1974 Should Congress pass a Constitutional amendment to make abortion against the law? STANFORD E. PARRIS (8th dist. R.) Spring 1974 Do you support changing the Constitution by adoption of a "right to life" amendment which prohibits abortions? 25% 64% 11% 11.2% Yes No WISCONSIN HAROLD FROELICH (8th Dist. R.) Abortion: Agree with the recent Supreme Court decision? Adults Youth 27.7% 1,951 VILLAIM A. STEIGER (6th dist. R.) Fall 1973 13 Abortion: Allowing the Supreme Court decision to stand.. 36% Amending the Constitution to restore to the states the power to regulate abortion ... 11.5% Amending the Constitution to prohibit in all but extreme circumstances ......... 52% No abortion in any circumstances WYOMING CLIFF HANSEN (Senate R.) Summer 1974 5% Do you favor amending the Constitution so that abortions would be prohibited? Yes 26% 62% 12% The Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights is a joining together of those national religious organizations for the following purpose: "To encourage and coordinate support for safeguarding the legal option of abortion, for ensuring the right of individuals to make decisions in accordance with their consciences; and for opposing efforts to deny this right of conscience through constitutional amendment, or federal and state legislation. The members of the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights are: Division of Social Ministries National Women's Conference of the American Ethical Union American Humanist Association B'nai B'rith Women Catholics for a Free Choice Washington Office Church of the Brethren National Council of Jewish Women National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods General Executive Board Presbyterian Church in the U.S. Commission on Women's Concerns Union of American Hebrew Congregations Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation Board of Homeland Ministries United Church of Christ Center for Social Action United Church of Christ Board of Church and Society United Methodist Church Women's Division Board of Global Ministries United Methodist Church Church and Society Unit United Presbyterian Church, USA Washington Office United Presbyterian Church, USA Women's Program Unit United Presbyterian Church, USA FOREWORD Over the past several years many religious organi. zations have adopted the position that decisions concerning abortion should be made according to individual conscience, consistent with responsible medical practice. The recent decisions of the Supreme Court recognized that abortion is a personal decision which should not be dictated by the state. Underlying the present movement to overturn those Supreme Court decisions is a particular viewpoint concerning the beginning of human life and the value of life itself. The opponents of abortion rights buttress their arguments with theological doctrine as if it were universally accepted. Yet over the broad spectrum of religious America, there are widely differing views on these questions. Even among the religious organizations which support the legal option of abortion, there is no unanimity in the answers to such questions as, When does human life begin? or, Does abortion do violence to the sanctity of life? The purpose of this booklet is to examine some of the beliefs and values at issue in the abortion debate and to explain the ethical views of those who support the legal option of abortion. The conclusions expressed are those of the author but the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights hopes they will be helpful to readers who seek answers to the questions which have been raised in the current debate. About the Author Dr. J. Philip Wogaman is the Dean and a professor of Christian Social Ethics at the Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Ethics from Boston University and was formerly the Director of the Pacific Center for the Study of Social Issues at the University of the Pacific. Dr. Wogaman is an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church. He is presently on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Christian Ethics and is a member of the American Academy of Religion. He is the author of a number of books including Guaranteed Annual Income: The Moral Issues and Protestant Faith and Religious Liberty, and he was the editor of the book, The Population Crisis and Moral Responsibility. Dr. Wogaman has published numerous articles in the Christian Century, Nexus, Christianity and Crisis, and other periodicals. |