WASHINGTON (May 31, 2006)— A new poll shows that 48% of Americans oppose
federal funding of stem cell research that requires destroying human
embryos, while only 39% support such funding. The poll, conducted by
International Communications Research (ICR), surveyed over one thousand
adults by telephone May 19-23.
Legislation to fund such embryonic stem cell research (H.R. 810), approved
by the U.S. House of Representatives a year ago, may soon be considered in
the Senate.It was commissioned by the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities
of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
When survey respondents were informed that scientists disagree on whether
stem cells from embryos, or from adult tissues and other alternative
sources, may end up being most successful in treating diseases, 57%
favored funding only the research avenues that do not harm the donor; only
24% favored funding all stem cell research, including the type that
involves destroying embryos.
“Congress should not be misled on this important issue,” said Richard M.
Doerflinger, Deputy Director of the USCCB’s Secretariat for Pro-Life
Activities. “Most Americans do not support federally funded research that
requires destroying human embryos. Our opponents also know this. No doubt
this is why their public statements – and many of their own opinion polls
– either ignore or misrepresent what this research involves, while
irresponsibly hyping its potential for miracle cures.”
The new poll also shows overwhelming opposition to human cloning, whether
to provide children for infertile couples (83% against) or to produce
embryos that would be destroyed in medical research (81% against).
A comparison with identical polls conducted by ICR in the last two years
shows a fairly consistent level of moral concern on this issue on the part
of the American public. Federally funded embryonic stem cell research has
never garnered majority support in this poll, reaching a high of 43% in
August 2004. For the third year in a row, when informed of their options,
most Americans support funding only stem cell research that does not
require destroying embryos.
The ICR polls also consistently show opposition of 77% or higher to human
cloning, whether for reproduction or medical research. The new poll’s
figure of 81% opposed to cloning human embryos for research is the highest
in three years.
The International Communications Research poll questions and results are
attached. USCCB press releases on the August 2004 and May 2005 polls are
available at www.usccb.org/comm/archives/commarc.shtml.
Questions asked by International Communications Research, a national
research firm headquartered in Media, Pennsylvania. A weighted sample of
1022 American adults was surveyed by telephone May 19-23, 2006, with a
margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.
1. Stem cells are the basic cells from which all of a person's tissues and
organs develop. Congress is considering the question of federal funding
for experiments using stem cells from human embryos. The live embryos
would be destroyed in their first week of development to obtain these
cells. Do you support or oppose using your federal tax dollars for such
experiments?
Support 38.6%
Oppose 47.8%
Don't know 11.9%
Refused 1.7%
2. Stem cells for research can be obtained by destroying human embryos.
They can also be obtained from adults, from placentas left over from live
births, and in other ways that do no harm to the donor. Scientists
disagree on which source may end up being most successful in treating
diseases. How would you prefer your tax dollars to be used this year for
stem cell research?
(Options rotated)
Supporting all methods, including those that require destroying
human embryos, to see which will be most successful 23.6%
or
Supporting research using adult stem cells and other alternatives,
to see if there is no need to destroy human embryos for research. 56.8%
Neither (volunteered) 11.1%
Don't know 7.2%
Refused 1.3%
3. Should scientists be allowed to use human cloning to try to create
children for infertile couples?
Yes 9.7%
No 83.4%
Don't Know 5.9%
Refused 1.0%
4. Should scientists be allowed to use human cloning to create a supply of
human embryos to be destroyed in medical research?
Yes 11.4%
No 81.2%
Don't Know 6.6%
Refused 0.8%