New Poll on "Moral Compass" Offers Encouraging News

A new Gallup poll offers much good news for pro-lifers.

Reporter Andrew Herrmann, in the May 15 Chicago Sun-Times, characterized the Gallup results as a "new poll on the moral compass of America." Discounting for the usual media hype, the results were an intriguing look at what respondents say they consider "morally acceptable" and "morally wrong."

The first number that jumps out is on abortion. Gallup reports that 53% said abortion was morally wrong to only 37% who said it was morally acceptable - - a whopping 16% margin.

As recently as 2001, 45% said abortion was morally wrong versus 42% who said it was morally acceptable - - a difference of only 3%.

The most revealing change came in the area of doctor-assisted suicide, where 49% said it was morally wrong, compared to 45% who said it was morally acceptable. Two years ago only 40% said it was morally wrong.

One result is seriously flawed:"Human embryo stem cell research - - 54% acceptable, 38% wrong." However, judging by the results of other polls, we find that once you spell out that a human embryo's life is taken in this "research," the numbers drop substantially.

The final Gallup number was especially reassuring. After being subjected to months and years of pro-cloning promises and puff pieces, the American people remain overwhelmingly opposed to human cloning - - 90% told Gallup it was morally wrong. In fact this represented an increase of 2% since 2001.