March for Life: 66% of Americans support imposing abortion restrictions

This Friday, hundreds of Americans are gathering in Washington for the March for Life, an annual event that unites Americans who oppose abortion. "We march because we envision a future world where the beauty and dignity of every human life is valued and protected," explain the organizers.

After the Supreme Court ruled nearly two years ago that abortion is not a constitutionally protected right - by overturning Roe v. Wade - the dispute over its legality is fought state by state. So while celebrating the SCOTUS ruling as a "blessing," the March For Life insists that its work continues: "The goal of the national March for Life is to not only change laws at the state and federal level, but to change the culture to ultimately make abortion unthinkable."

A recent Knights of Columbus-Marist and Marist Poll sheds some light on Americans' views: 66% support imposing legal limits on abortion. "Once again, most Americans are steadfast in their belief that abortion should be significantly limited yet laws should include exceptions for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother," said Dr. Barbara Carvalho, director of the pollster behind the survey.

Nearly six in ten Americans support limiting abortions to the first three months of pregnancy. Nine percent of Americans say they should not be allowed under any circumstances and another 9% say they should only be allowed to save the life of the mother, while 22% add to the latter the cases of incest and rape.

Thirty-one percent state that it depends on the number of months of pregnancy: 18% place the limit in the first three months, while 13% extend it to the first six months. Twenty-nine percent affirm that "abortion should be available to a woman any time she wants one during her entire pregnancy."

Medical professionals

The poll released Thursday also found that 83% of adults support the work of pregnancy resource centers, which accompany women during and after pregnancy.

Some 66% also say that doctors and nurses who have religious objections should not be forced to perform abortions. In this regard, it is worth noting that 53% of those in favor of abortion are in favor of allowing exceptions based on religion.

The poll, conducted in early January of 1,371 adults, also found that 58% oppose abortions because the child will be born with Down syndrome, and 86% because of gender.