Contraception
Site last published: 01/06/10
By the Numbers: Contraception
75% of Catholics support requiring health insurance plans to cover birth control pills. [1]
78% of Catholics oppose allowing pharmacists to refuse to fill birth control prescriptions. [1]
Birth control/contraception is supported by 90% of Catholics as compared to 93% of all adults. [2]
Condom use to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases is supported by 93% of Catholics as compared to 92% of all adults. [2]
47% of all Catholics favor allowing emergency contraception without a prescription as compared to 48% of the general population. [3]
62% of Catholics (61% of the general population) support legislation which calls to provide contraception to sexually active teens. [4]
84% of both Catholics and the general public believe that making it easier for low income women and teenagers to obtain contraception would have at least a small impact on reducing unintended pregnancies and abortions. [4]
Only 26% of Catholics ages 18 to 35 support the Vatican's prohibition against "artificial birth control." [5]
79% of white Catholics favor allowing public schools to provide information about birth control as compared to 78% of the general population. [6]
88% of Catholics are supportive of easily accessible information about birth control as compared to 89% of the general population. [7]
53% of Catholics are supportive of the availability of emergency contraception compared to 58% of the general population. [7]
[1] Belden Russonello & Stewart, "Secular and Security-Minded: The Catholic Vote in Summer 2008," Catholics for Choice, July 2008.
[2] Harris Poll, "New Harris Poll Finds Different Religious Groups Have Very Different Attitudes To Some Health Policies and Programs," http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=608 (accessed June 24, 2008).
[3] Pew Research Center, "Pragmatic Americans Liberal and Conservative on Social Issues," August 3, 2006, http://people-press.org/reports/pdf/283.pdf (accessed June 24, 2008).
[4] Third Way, "National Abortion Survey Weighted Master Questionnaire," July 16, 2007.
[5] David O’Reilly, "Catholicism Is A Faith in Flux across U.S," Philadelphia Inquirer, June 6, 2006.
[6] Pew Research Center, "Abortion and Rights of Terror Suspects Top Court Issues," August 3, 2005, http://people-press.org/report/253/abortion-and-rights-of-terror-suspects-top-court-issues (accessed June 24, 2008).
[7] Health & Medicine Week, "Poll Finds Most Americans Support More Access to Birth Control Information," July 24, 2006.
75% of Catholics support requiring health insurance plans to cover birth control pills. [1]
78% of Catholics oppose allowing pharmacists to refuse to fill birth control prescriptions. [1]
Birth control/contraception is supported by 90% of Catholics as compared to 93% of all adults. [2]
Condom use to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases is supported by 93% of Catholics as compared to 92% of all adults. [2]
47% of all Catholics favor allowing emergency contraception without a prescription as compared to 48% of the general population. [3]
62% of Catholics (61% of the general population) support legislation which calls to provide contraception to sexually active teens. [4]
84% of both Catholics and the general public believe that making it easier for low income women and teenagers to obtain contraception would have at least a small impact on reducing unintended pregnancies and abortions. [4]
Only 26% of Catholics ages 18 to 35 support the Vatican's prohibition against "artificial birth control." [5]
79% of white Catholics favor allowing public schools to provide information about birth control as compared to 78% of the general population. [6]
88% of Catholics are supportive of easily accessible information about birth control as compared to 89% of the general population. [7]
53% of Catholics are supportive of the availability of emergency contraception compared to 58% of the general population. [7]
[1] Belden Russonello & Stewart, "Secular and Security-Minded: The Catholic Vote in Summer 2008," Catholics for Choice, July 2008.
[2] Harris Poll, "New Harris Poll Finds Different Religious Groups Have Very Different Attitudes To Some Health Policies and Programs," http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=608 (accessed June 24, 2008).
[3] Pew Research Center, "Pragmatic Americans Liberal and Conservative on Social Issues," August 3, 2006, http://people-press.org/reports/pdf/283.pdf (accessed June 24, 2008).
[4] Third Way, "National Abortion Survey Weighted Master Questionnaire," July 16, 2007.
[5] David O’Reilly, "Catholicism Is A Faith in Flux across U.S," Philadelphia Inquirer, June 6, 2006.
[6] Pew Research Center, "Abortion and Rights of Terror Suspects Top Court Issues," August 3, 2005, http://people-press.org/report/253/abortion-and-rights-of-terror-suspects-top-court-issues (accessed June 24, 2008).
[7] Health & Medicine Week, "Poll Finds Most Americans Support More Access to Birth Control Information," July 24, 2006.