Hot Topics
Survey Reports
August 3, 2005
Abortion and Rights of Terror Suspects Top Court Issues
Questionnaire
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS
AND PEW FORUM ON RELIGION & PUBLIC LIFE
JULY 2005 NEWS INTEREST INDEX / RELIGION
FINAL TOPLINE
July 13-17, 2005
N=1,502
QUESTIONS 1 THROUGH 15 IN PREVIOUS RELEASE
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=751]:
Q.16F2 As I read some issues the Supreme Court may rule on over the coming years, please tell me how important
each issue is to you personally. First, are court decisions on [INSERT ITEM, RANDOMIZE] very
important, fairly important, not too important, or not at all important to you?
Very Fairly Not too Not at all
Important Important Important Important DK/Ref
a. Abortion 63 21 8 7 1=100
b. Affirmative action 43 35 12 7 3=100
d. The rights of people held in custody as
terrorist suspects 62 21 10 6 1=100
e. The amount of money courts can award in
personal injury lawsuits 49 31 13 5 2=100
f. Whether to allow religious displays on
government property 55 25 11 8 1=100
ASK ALL:
Q.17 In 1973 the Roe versus Wade decision established a woman's constitutional right to an abortion, at least in
the first three months of pregnancy. Would you like to see the Supreme Court completely overturn its Roe
versus Wade decision, or not?
---------Gallup---------
June Jan March Aug* Oct
2005 2003 2002 1992 1989
29 Yes 30 31 36 34 33
65 No 63 62 60 60 61
6 Don't know/Refused (VOL.) 7 7 4 6 6
100 100 100 100 100 100
* Aug 1992 based on Registered Voters.
QUESTIONS 18 THROUGH 49 IN PREVIOUS RELEASE
On a different subject
Q.50 Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally?
Early Mid-
Dec Aug July March Feb Nov Oct* July March June
2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2003 2003 2003 2001 1996
13 Strongly favor 14 8 10 10 9 10 9 10 8 6
23 Favor 18 21 22 22 21 20 21 28 27 21
22 Oppose 23 25 23 24 21 21 25 23 23 24
31 Strongly oppose 38 35 33 35 42 41 33 30 34 41
11 Don't know/Ref. (VOL.) 7 11 12 9 7 8 12 9 8 8
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
* The October 2003 trend questions about gay marriage and civil unions are based on Form 1 respondents only (N=735).
In an experiment, Form 2 respondents were asked the questions in the reverse order. The experiment found that the
order of the questions has a significant impact on responses to the civil unions question.
Q.51 Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to enter into
legal agreements with each other that would give them many of the same rights as married couples?
Aug July March Oct
2004 2004 2004 2003
22 Strongly favor 15 18 16 14
31 Favor 33 31 33 31
16 Oppose 21 18 18 20
24 Strongly oppose 24 25 26 27
7 Don't know/Refused (VOL.) 7 8 7 8
100 100 100 100 100
IF OPPOSE GAY MARRIAGE (3,4 IN Q.50), ASK:
Q.52 There has been a proposal to change the U.S. Constitution to ban gay marriage. Do you think amending the
Constitution to ban gay marriage is a good idea, or a bad idea?
Aug July March
2004 2004 2004
36 Favor 29 32 32
53 Oppose 60 56 59
29 Good idea / Pro-Constitutional amendment 35 31 36
22 Bad idea / Anti-Constitutional amendment 22 22 21
2 Don't know/Refused (VOL.) 3 3 2
11 Don't know/Refused (VOL.) 11 12 9
100 100 100 100
ASK ALL:
Q.53 Do you favor or oppose [INSERT ITEM; ROTATE ITEMS IN BLOCKS (FIRST a, THEN b THRU
d)] Do you favor or oppose [NEXT ITEM]?
Favor Oppose DK/Ref
a. Allowing women to get the so-called "morning-after pill,"
which prevents pregnancy, without a doctor's prescription 52 37 11=100
b. Having the public schools teach teenagers to abstain from
sex until marriage 76 20 4=100
c. Allowing public schools to provide students with information
on birth control methods 78 18 4=100
June, 1996 76 22 2=100
d. Requiring that women under the age of 18 get the consent of
at least one parent before they are allowed to have an abortion 73 22 5=100
Sept, 1999 69 28 3=100
May, 1992 73 23 4=100
Q.54 In March, Congress passed a bill that required the federal courts to hear the case of Terri Schiavo, the brain-
damaged Florida woman who later died after her feeding tube was removed. Do you believe that Congress
did the right thing in getting involved in the case, or do you think Congress should have stayed out of the
case?
20 Believe that Congress did the right thing
74 Believe that Congress should have stayed out of the case
6 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
100
Now a few questions about abortion
Q.55F1/ Which comes closer to your view? Abortion should be generally available to those who want it; Abortion
Q.56F2 should be available but under stricter limits than it is now; Abortion should be against the law except in
cases of rape, incest and to save the woman's life; Abortion should not be permitted at all.*
June June CBS/NYT
1997 1996 Feb 1996
35 Generally available 30 32 36
23 Available, but under stricter limits 21 24 22
31 Against law except rape/incest/save life 36 33 34
9 Abortion should not be permitted at all 12 9 7
2 Don't know/Refused (VOL.) 1 2 1
100 100 100 100
* In an experiment, Form 2 respondents were read the response options in the reverse order. The experiment found that
the order of the response options does not have a significant impact on responses. Therefore, Form 1 and Form 2 results
are combined.
Q.57 Regardless of whether or not you think abortion should be legal, do you personally believe that having an
abortion is morally wrong in nearly all circumstances, morally wrong in some circumstances, or is it not a
moral issue?
29 Morally wrong in nearly all circumstances
41 Morally wrong in some circumstances
26 Not a moral issue
4 Don't Know/Refused (VOL.)
100
Q.58 Regardless of whether or not you think abortion should be legal, do you think it would be a good thing to
reduce the number of abortions performed in the United States, or don't you feel this way?
59 Good thing to reduce the number of abortions
33 Don't feel this way
8 Don't know/Refused (VOL.)
100
NO QUESTION 59
Q.60 As you may know, the federal government has debated whether to fund certain kinds of medical research
known as 'stem cell research' How much have you heard about this? [READ, IN ORDER]
Dec Aug March
2004 2004 2002
48 A lot 47 42 27
42 A little [OR] 41 43 52
10 Nothing at all 11 15 20
* Don't know/Refused (VOL.) 1 * 1
100 100 100 100
Q.61F1/ All in all, which is more important [READ, IN ORDER]*
Q.62F2 Dec Aug March
2004 2004 2002
Conducting stem cell research that might result
57 in new medical cures 56 52 43
[OR]
Not destroying the potential life of human embryos
30 involved in this research 32 34 38
13 Don't know/Refused [VOL, DO NOT READ] 12 14 19
100 100 100 100
* In an experiment, the first response option for Form 1 read “conducting embryonic stem cell research that might
result in new medical cures”. The experiment found that the alternative wording of the response option does not
have a significant impact on responses. Therefore, Form 1 and Form 2 results are combined.
IF ANSWER GIVEN (Q.61F1=1,2 OR Q.62F2=1,2) ASK [N=1,297]:
Q.63 Which one of the following has had the biggest influence on your thinking on this issue... [READ IN
ORDER]
BASED ON
Conduct Not destroy March
Total research life 2002*
14 16 9 A personal experience 7
5 5 5 The views of your friends and family 4
24 31 13 What you have seen or read in the media 34
23 7 52 Your religious beliefs 18
23 28 12 Your education 22
10 11 8 OR Something else 13
1 2 1 Don't know/Refused 2
100 100 100 100
(N=847) (N=450)
* In March 2002, the question was asked of those who gave an answer to the question “Do you think the federal government
should or should not fund stem cell research?
***********************************************************************************************************************
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS
AND PEW FORUM ON RELIGION & PUBLIC LIFE
JULY 2005 RELIGION AND PUBLIC LIFE SURVEY
FINAL TOPLINE
July 7-17, 2005
N=2000
QUESTIONS 1 AND 2 HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE
Q.3 I'd like to get your views on some issues that are being discussed in this country today. All in all, do you
strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose [READ AND RANDOMIZE; OBSERVE FORM
SPLITS] Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose [NEXT ITEM]?
------ FAVOR ------ ----- OPPOSE -------
Strongly Strongly Don't
Net Favor Favor Net Oppose Oppose know
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=1000]:
a.F1 The death penalty for persons convicted
of murder 68 32 36 24 8 16 8=100
Mid-July, 2003 64 28 36 30 10 20 6=100
March, 2002 67 33 34 26 9 17 7=100
March, 2001 66 30 36 27 10 17 7=100
September, 1999 74 41 33 22 7 15 4=100
June, 1996 78 43 35 18 7 11 4=100
b.F1 Making it legal for doctors to give
terminally ill patients the means to
end their lives 51 18 33 40 16 24 9=100
Mid-July, 2003 54 18 36 39 17 22 7=100
March, 2001 53 19 34 40 18 22 7=100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=1000]:
f.F2 The death penalty for persons convicted
of murder when they were under the age
of 18 37 12 25 54 19 35 9=100
Mid-July, 2003 35 11 24 58 20 38 7=100
g.F2 Making it legal for doctors to assist
terminally ill patients in committing
suicide 44 12 32 48 21 27 8=100
Mid-July, 2003 43 14 29 48 24 24 9=100
QUESTIONS 4 THROUGH 32 HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE
ASK ALL:
Now, a few questions about your religious affiliation.
Q.33 What is your religious preference do you consider yourself Christian, Jewish, Muslim, other non-
Christian such as Buddhist or Hindu, atheist, agnostic, something else, or don't you have a religious
preference?
Mid-July March March June
2003 2002 2001 1996
81 Christian 81 82 82 84
2 Jewish 2 1 1 1
* Muslim * * 1 *
1 Other non-Christian 4 1 2 3
1 Atheist 2 1 1 n/a
2 Agnostic 3 2 2 n/a
2 Something else (SPECIFY) 1 2 1 n/a
11 No preference 6 10 8 11
* Don't know/Refused 1 1 2 1
100 100 100 100 100
IF CHRISTIAN IN Q.33, ASK:
Q.34 Are you Protestant, Roman Catholic, Mormon, Orthodox such as Greek or Russian Orthodox, or
something else?
Mid-July March March June
2003 2002 2001 1996
50 Protestant 52 52 53 54
22 Roman Catholic 23 24 23 23
1 Mormon 1 2 2 2
1 Orthodox * * 1 1
6 Something else (SPECIFY) 1 2 * 1
- Not practicing any religion - - - 1
1 Don't know/Refused 4 2 3 2
81% Christian 81% 82% 82% 84%
IF 1 "PROTESTANT" OR 5 "SOMETHING ELSE" IN Q.34, ASK:
Q.35 As I read a list, tell me which if any of these denominations you are affiliated with. (READ LIST)
March 2001 June 1996
19 Baptist 17 18
7 Methodist 8 10
5 Lutheran 5 6
3 Presbyterian 3 4
2 Congregational or United Church of Christ 3 3
7 Nondenominational or Independent Church 6 5
4 Pentecostal 5 3
2 Episcopalian 2 2
* Reformed, or * *
5 Something else (SPECIFY) 3 2
2 Nothing in particular (DO NOT READ) 1 1
* Don't Know/Refused (DO NOT READ) 1 *
56% Protestant/Something else 54% 54%
IF 1 "CHRISTIAN" OR 7 "SOMETHING ELSE" in Q33, ASK]:
Q.36 Would you describe yourself as a "born-again" or evangelical Christian, or not?
Mid-July March March June
2003 2002 2001 1996
36 Yes 37 35 36 34
40 No 41 44 43 47
4 Don't Know/Refused 4 5 4 3
3 Undesignated n/a n/a n/a n/a
83% Christian/Something else 82% 84% 83% 84%
QUESTION 37 HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE
ASK ALL:
Q.38 Aside from weddings and funerals how often do you attend religious services... more than once a week,
once a week, once or twice a month, a few times a year, seldom, or never?
Aug Jul Mar Mar Mid-Nov Mar Sep Jun Jun
2004 2003 2003 2002 2001 2001 2000 1997 1996
14 More than once a week 13 16 15 15 16 17 17 12 14
27 Once a week 25 27 24 25 26 26 28 26 25
14 Once or twice a month 15 15 15 17 14 17 16 17 17
19 A few times a year 20 18 21 18 17 17 17 20 21
14 Seldom 15 14 15 15 16 15 13 15 13
11 Never 11 10 9 9 10 7 8 10 9
1 Don't know/Refused 1 * 1 1 1 1 1 * 1
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.39 How important would you say religion is in your own life very important, fairly important, or not very
important?
Very Fairly Not very Don't know/
Important Important Important Refused
July, 2005 60 25 14 1=100
August, 2004 57 26 16 1=100
October, 2003 62 24 13 1=100
Mid-July, 2003 61 24 14 1=100
December, 2002 60 27 12 1=100
March, 2002 63 24 12 1=100
Mid-November, 2001 61 24 14 1=100
March, 2001 64 23 12 1=100
March, 2000 (Gallup) 61 27 12 *=100
June, 1998 (Gallup) 62 25 12 1=100
June, 1996 59 26 15 *=100
March, 1994 (Gallup) 59 29 11 1=100
March, 1988 (Gallup) 54 31 14 1=100
March, 1984 (Gallup) 56 30 13 1=100
April, 1978 (Gallup) 52 32 14 2=100
November, 1965 (Gallup) 70 22 7 1=100
Q.40 Which of these statements comes closest to describing your feelings about the Bible? [READ, IN ORDER]
March Mid-July March June
2004 2003 2001 1996
36 The Bible is the actual word of God and is to be 40 35 36 35
taken literally, word for word, OR
40 The Bible is the word of God, but not everything 42 43 43 47
in it should be taken literally, word for word, OR
18 The Bible is a book written by men and is not 13 16 14 14
the word of God.
2 Other (VOL.) 1 2 3 2
4 Don't know/Refused (VOL.) 4 4 4 2
100 100 100 100 100
QUESTIONS 41 THROUGH 50 IN PREVIOUS RELEASE
QUESTIONS 51 THROUGH 65 HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE
Now, just a few questions for statistical purposes only...
PARTY In politics TODAY, do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or Independent?
(VOL) (VOL)
No Other
Trend Republican Democrat Independent Preference Party Don't know
July, 2005 32 32 28 5 * 3=100
June, 2005 30 32 32 4 * 2=100
May, 2005 30 34 29 4 * 3=100
March, 2005 30 34 29 4 * 3=100
February, 2005 31 32 30 4 1 2=100
January, 2005 32 33 30 4 * 1=100
December, 2004 31 34 30 3 * 2=100
Mid-October, 2004 30 33 30 4 * 3=100
Late September, 2004 29 30 31 6 * 4=100
Mid-September, 2004 29 31 30 5 * 5=100
Early September, 2004 30 33 31 3 * 3=100
August, 2004 31 35 27 4 * 3=100
July, 2004 29 33 32 3 * 3=100
June, 2004 30 34 31 3 * 2=100
May, 2004 29 35 26 5 1 4=100
Early May, 2004 27 34 31 4 1 3=100
Late April, 2004 30 31 31 5 * 3=100
Early April, 2004 31 32 28 4 1 4=100
Late March, 2004 30 34 28 4 * 4=100
March, 2004 27 35 32 4 * 2=100
Mid-February, 2004 30 33 30 4 * 3=100
Early February, 2004 31 33 31 3 * 2=100
Mid-January, 2004 31 31 31 4 1 2=100
Early January, 2004 29 34 31 4 * 2=100
Yearly Totals
2004 30 33 30 4 * 3=100
2003 30 31 31 5 * 3=100
2002 30 31 30 5 1 3=100
2001 29 34 29 5 * 3=100
2001 Post-Sept 11 31 32 28 5 1 3=100
2001 Pre-Sept 11 28 35 30 5 * 2=100
2000 28 33 29 6 * 4=100
1999 27 33 34 4 * 2=100
1998 28 33 32 5 * 2=100
1997 28 33 32 4 1 2=100
No Preference/
Other/DK
1996 29 33 33 5=100
1995 32 30 34 4=100
1994 30 32 34 4=100
1993 27 34 34 5=100
1992 28 33 35 4=100
1991 31 32 33 4=100
1990 31 33 30 6=100
Independent/
No Pref/Oth/DK
1989 33 33 34=100
1987 26 35 39=100
(All party identification trends based on general public.)
IF ANSWERED 3, 4, 5 OR 9 IN PARTY, ASK:
PARTYLN As of today do you lean more to the Republican Party or more to the Democratic Party?
Refused
Republican Democrat to lean
July, 2005 10 14 12=36%
June, 2005 10 16 12=38%
Mid-May, 2005 9 13 14=36%
Late March, 2005 13 17 9=39%
December, 2004 14 12 9=35%
August, 2003 12 16 14=42%
August, 2002 12 13 13=38%
September, 2000 11 13 15=39%
Late September, 1999 14 15 16=45%
August, 1999 15 15 12=42%
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