A preliminary survey conducted by SecularProLife.org indicates that the vast majority of American pro-lifers, regardless of their religious beliefs, endorse at least one secular reason for being pro-life. If this finding can be replicated on a larger scale, it will be a massive blow to the abortion advocacy's characterization of the pro-life movement as "religious extremists."
The following is a rough draft outlining the survey results and asking more established pro-life groups to take up the cause for part two, since we don't have the money to do it ourselves. I have absolutely no experience in drafting research proposals, so PLEASE, give me your feedback.
Methodology
Survey respondents were solicited though a Facebook ad targeting pro-life Americans. Participants were not told that the survey was sponsored by SecularProLife.org.
The survey began with demographic questions. It then provided a list of possible reasons for being pro-life, from which the respondents were asked to select their top three reasons. The following question provided the same list, this time allowing respondents to select all reasons that applied to them.
Demographics
The survey’s 110 respondents represented 37 states. The age range was 13 to 65, with an average age of 28.5. 80% were female. 42.5% were Republican, 20% were Democratic, 17.9% were independent, and 17% chose “other.” 74% were Christian (40.6% non-denominational, 11.3% Protestant, and 17.9% Catholic), and 26% were non-Christian or preferred not to answer. This is very close to what one would expect when polling a larger number of people; according to ReligiousTolerance.org, 76.5% of Americans identify themselves as Christians.
Key findings
The majority of respondents, whether Christian or non-Christian, endorsed at least one non-religious reason for being pro-life.
Among Christians, the statement “The human fetus has a God-given right to life” was endorsed as a top-three reason by 68.3%, and by 92.6% as applicable to them; similarly, “Abortion violates God’s will” was endorsed by 50% as a top-three reason and by 85.2% as applicable to them. These were the most popular choices. The third most popular was the statement “Science has proven that human life begins at conception, and human rights should be applied equally to all human beings regardless of age” (46.6%, 74.1%).
Among non-Christians, the statement “Science has proven that human life begins at conception, and human rights should be applied equally to all human beings regardless of age” was the most common top-three answer (50%). When asked to select all answers that applied to them, harm to women, concerns about fetal pain, and the welfare of infants born alive after abortion were the most common responses (all 58.8%).
Overall, the least endorsed reasons on the list were “Roe v Wade was poorly reasoned” and “Abortion violates the ethics of the Catholic Church as outlined in Humanae Vitae and related documents.”
Proposal to conduct expanded survey
If the results of this preliminary survey are at all indicative of national sentiment, the abortion advocacy claim that the pro-life movement is an effort to impose Catholic morality on the nation is clearly false. A more expansive survey, undertaken by a reputable polling firm, is needed to confirm these results and effectively combat such claims.
The chief defects in the preliminary survey were that only 110 persons participated in the survey, and a disproportionate number of them were female. These defects could easily be corrected in an expanded survey.
Unfortunately, SecularProLife.org is a young organization and does not have the financial resources to conduct an expanded survey. This crucial research cannot take place without the co-sponsorship of a larger, more established pro-life group or groups. SecularProLife.org welcomes collaboration with any interested organization. Please contact us at info@secularprolife.org if you would like to contribute to the expanded survey.
Let's put this catchphrase to rest