Americans' views on life issues

Another report released by Pew Research Center and based on two surveys conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, finds "about as many Americans rate the rights of detained terrorist suspects as a very important issue for the Supreme Court as say that about abortion." The study also provides a more detailed breakdown of the views of American society toward the controversial issues of the death penalty, and gay rights and gay marriage. Data suggest moderate views are held by most Americans on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage, and that most Americans are less committed and more ambivalent on social issues than conservatives or liberals.

For example, the report found that while most surveyed felt that abortions should have some regulation, as in the case of women under the age of 18, 65% of Americans do not feel the Roe v. Wade decision should be overturned. Similarly, while only 36% of Americans favor allowing gay marriage, 53% favor allowing gay legal unions with many of the rights and privileges of marriage. Other social issues covered in the surveys include stem cell research, death penalty for murderers, physician-assisted suicide, and birth control and abstinence taught in schools.

Abortion And Rights Of Terror Suspects Top Court Issues
(available in PDF, 132K, from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life)