RELIGION,

VALUES, AND EXPERIENCES: BLACK AND HISPANIC AMERICAN ATTITUDES ON ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES
Findings from the African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey

Public Religion Research Institute

Analysis by

Dr. Robert P. Jones, CEO Daniel Cox, Director of Research

The African American & Hispanic ReproducGve Issues Survey

One of the most comprehensive public opinion surveys ever conducted on aborGon and religion among African Americans and Hispanics: 810 interviews among Black Americans, MOE +/- 5.1 813 interviews among Hispanic Americans, MOE +/- 4.7 Conducted online among naBonal probability sample using Knowledge Networks KnowledgePanel between June 14 June 23, 2012 Focus Groups among African Americans and Hispanics Funded with generous support from the Ford FoundaGon

Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey

THE CONTEXT
Issue PrioriBes The ElecBon Views on ContracepBon

Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey

CriGcal Issues Facing the Country

CriGcal Issues Facing the Country
Percent who say it is a cri7cal issue
Hispanic Americans Black Americans 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 AborBon Same-sex marriage ImmigraBon Growing gap The federal between rich decit and poor EducaBon The economy 30 17 26 18 49 40 23 52 45 48 50 56 75 71

Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans) Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey 4

PresidenGal Vote Black and Hispanic Voters

Barack Obama vs. MiS Romney Among Voters
Barack Obama 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 All Black American Voters All Hispanic Voters
Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans) Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey 5

Mid Romney

Other/Refused (VOL.)

87

58

32

10

10

PresidenGal Vote Black and Hispanic Voters

Barack Obama vs. MiS Romney Among Hispanic Voters
Barack Obama 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 All Hispanic Voters Hispanic Catholic Voters Hispanic Protestant Voters
Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans) Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey 6 10 9 8

Mid Romney 64

Other/Refused (VOL.)

58 50 41 32 27

Support for ContracepGon Policies

Support for ContracepGon Policies
Black Americans 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Favor expanding access to birth control for women who cannot aord it Believe Religiously aliated hospitals should provide birth control to employees Agree methods of birth control should be generally available to teenagers (16+) 61 64 59 54 92 85 Hispanic Americans

Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans) Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey 7

COMPLEXITY OF VIEWS ON ABORTION

Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey

Legality of AborGon
Legality of AborGon Among Black Americans
4 26 Legal in all cases Legal in most cases Illegal in most cases Illegal in all cases 41 Refused (VOL.) 29 28 22

Legality of AborGon Among Hispanic Americans

4 Legal in all cases 18 Legal in most cases Illegal in most cases Illegal in all cases Refused

10

20

Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans)

Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey

Circumstances Under Which a Woman Should Be Able to Obtain an AborGon

Circumstances in Which a Woman Should Be Able to Obtain an AborGon
Percent who say it should be possible
Black Americans 68 65 Hispanic Americans 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 If she became pregnant as the result of rape If there is a strong If the family has a If she is sBll in high If she is not married chance of serious very low income and school and does not want to defect in the baby cannot aord any marry the man more children 80

61 44 34 44 34 38 29

Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 African Americans; 813 Hispanics) Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey 10

"Pro-Life" & "Pro-Choice" Labels

The Complexity of "Pro-Life" & "Pro-Choice" Labels
Pro-choice (Strong) Pro-choice (Weak) Mixed/No IdenBty Pro-life (Weak) Pro-life (Strong) 60 52 50 40 30 20 12 10 0 All Americans Black Americans Hispanic Americans
Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans); Public Religion Research InsBtute, Religion, Millennials and AborBon Survey, May 2011 (N=3,000) Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey 11

47 37 25 14 6 5 4 17 6

17

21 13

23

Morality of Personal Behaviors

Among respondents who say abor7on is morally wrong
70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Sex between two Sex between a young Having an aborBon adults of the same man and young gender woman under the age of 18 Having a child without being married Using arBcial birth control methods also known as contracepBves 12 14 Black Americans 61 55 60 58 51 41 36 Hispanic Americans 61

Morality of Personal Behaviors

Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans) Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey 12

Morality and Legality of AborGon

Among respondents who say abor7on is morally wrong
Legal in all cases Legal in most cases Illegal in most cases Illegal in all cases

Legality of AborGon

Hispanic Americans

19

40

33

Black Americans

12

40

30

16

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans) Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey 13

Values and the Issue of AborGon

Values Informing Beliefs on the Issue of AborGon
Percent who say value is very important
Black Americans 68 68 65 60 Hispanic Americans 70 63 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Not judging other Showing ProtecBng PromoBng people compassion for womens personal women in dicult freedom to make responsibility circumstances their own decisions ProtecBng the sancBty of life ProtecBng religious liberty 72 72

57

56

52

55

Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans)

Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey

14

PREDICTORS OF ATTITUDES ON LEGALITY OF ABORTION

Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey

15

Hearing About PoliGcal and Social Issues in Church

Percentage who hear their clergy talk about the issue oAen or some7mes
60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Economic inequality Racism or discriminaBon The issue of homosexuality The issue of aborBon ImmigraBon 30 20 Black Americans 54 49 48 47 47 43 Hispanic Americans 54 40

Hearing About PoliGcal and Social Issues in the Church

Note: Among respondents who adend church at least once or twice a month Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans) Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey 16

Disagreeing with Church Teachings

Is it possible to disagree with the Church's teachings on the issue of aborGon and sGll be considered a good Catholic/ ChrisGan?
90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Black Americans Hispanic Americans
Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans) Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey 17

Possible 78

Not Possible

60

38 19

Predictors of OpposiGon to AborGon: African Americans

Have no high school degree Say religion is most important thing No close friend/family member who had an aborBon IdenBfy as born-again/evangelical ChrisBan Adend religious services weekly or more Believe the Bible is the literal word of God
Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans) Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey 18

Predictors of OpposiGon to AborGon: Hispanic Americans

IdenBfy as born-again/evangelical ChrisBan IdenBfy as conservaBve Adend religious services weekly or more Have no high school degree Under age 65 No close friend/family member who had an aborBon Believe in personal God First generaBon immigrant IdenBfy as Catholic
Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans) Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey 19

Knowing Someone Who Has Had an AborGon

Do You Have a Close Friend or Family Member Who Has Had an AborGon?
70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Black Americans Hispanic Americans
Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans) Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey 20

Yes 57

No 59

40

39

AborGon Clinic Safety

Do You Think AborGon Clinics Are Safe?
Very safe Somewhat safe Not too safe Not at all safe

Hispanic Americans

38

26

24

Black Americans

17

49

20

12

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans) Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey 21

How Experiences Inuence Aftudes on the Legality of AborGon among Black Americans

Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American/Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans)

Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey

22

How Experiences Inuence Aftudes on the Legality of AborGon among Hispanic Americans

Source: Public Religion Research InsBtute, African American/Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey, June 2012 (N=810 Black Americans; 813 Hispanic Americans)

Findings from the African American & Hispanic Reproduc7ve Issues Survey

23

RELIGION, VALUES, AND EXPERIENCES: BLACK AND HISPANIC AMERICAN ATTITUDES ON ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES
Findings from the African American & Hispanic ReproducBve Issues Survey
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Public Religion Research Institute

Analysis by

Dr. Robert P. Jones, CEO Daniel Cox, Director of Research