WASHINGTON, May 16, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A majority of Americans, 52 percent, oppose federal funding of embryonic stem cell research while just 36 percent support it, according to a new poll commissioned by the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Such funding is being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives, which may soon vote on a bill (H.R. 810) to fund research requiring human embryos to be destroyed for their stem cells.
When respondents were told that scientists disagree on whether embryonic stem cells, or stem cells from adult tissues and umbilical cord blood, may end up being most successful in treating diseases, 60% favored funding only the research avenues that raise no moral problem, while 22% favored funding all stem cell research including the kind that involves destroying embryos.
“It is always wrong for government to promote the destruction of innocent human life,” said Richard M. Doerflinger, Deputy Director of the USCCB Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. “To do so when a clear majority of the taxpayers themselves reject this approach would be especially irresponsible.”
The questions were part of a national survey conducted by International Communications Research, which polled over one thousand American adults by telephone May 6-11. A comparison of the results with an identical poll from last year shows a clear trend against funding stem cell research that requires destroying early human embryos. In August 2004, Americans opposed funding the research 47 percent to 43 percent. The follow-up question on kinds of stem cell research has received a more consistent response, with the 2004 poll showing a 61% to 23% margin in favor of funding only morally unproblematic avenues of research.
The new findings are also consistent with a recent Winston Group poll of Republicans commissioned by GOP Congressmen supporting H.R. 810. The Winston poll sponsors have touted a 57- to 40-percent poll result seeming to favor embryonic stem cell research among Republicans; but that poll showed just 36 percent of Republicans in favor of expanded federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, and 58 percent in favor of President Bush’s policy of limited funding or no government funding at all.
“Congress should not be misled on this important issue,” said Doerflinger. “Most Americans oppose federal funding of research which requires destroying human embryos.” The International Communications Research poll questions and results are attached.