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Moral Issues

Extramarital Affairs, Like Sanford’s, Morally Taboo

Recent confessions of affairs by elected officials fly in face of Americans’ normative standards

June 25, 2009
A recent Gallup Poll finds 92% of Americans agreeing that having an extramarital affair, such as the ones South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Nevada Sen. John Ensign have confessed to, is morally wrong -- making it the most objectionable of any issue tested.More ...

Knowing Someone Gay/Lesbian Affects Views of Gay Issues

Opposition to gay marriage higher among those who do not know someone who is gay/lesbian

May 29, 2009
Americans who personally know someone who is gay or lesbian are more likely than those who do not to support legalized gay marriage, 49% to 27%. They are also more likely to think gay or lesbian relations should be legal and to be comfortable around people who are gay or lesbian.More ...

Majority of Americans Continue to Oppose Gay Marriage

No change in support from last year

May 27, 2009
Even though an increasing number of states have moved toward legalizing same-sex marriage in the past year, Americans’ views on the matter have not changed, with 57% opposed and 40% in favor of legal recognition of gay marriages. Americans are more supportive of gay rights in other areas.More ...

Republicans Move to the Right on Several Moral Issues

No change in Democrats’ attitudes about what is morally acceptable

May 20, 2009
Americans’ views about the moral acceptability of 15 different social issues and policies haven’t changed dramatically over the past year. However, Republicans have grown less supportive of embryonic stem-cell research, divorce, and gambling -- pushing the overall figures slightly to the right, politically.More ...

More Americans “Pro-Life” Than “Pro-Choice” for First Time

Also, fewer think abortion should be legal “under any circumstances”

May 15, 2009
More Americans describe themselves as “pro-life” on abortion (51%) than “pro-choice” (42%) for the first time since Gallup began asking the question in 1995. Gallup also finds a shift to the right in terms of the circumstances in which Americans think abortion should be legal.More ...

Americans More Likely to Say Moral Values “Getting Better”

Still overwhelmingly believe values are getting worse

May 14, 2009
Americans still overwhelmingly believe moral values in the U.S. are getting worse (71%) rather than better (21%), but the percentage who say moral values are getting better is up from 11% last year.More ...

U.S., Canada Show More Interfaith Cohesion Than Europe

European Muslims embrace their nations, but the latter do not embrace them

May 7, 2009
A new report from Gallup and the Coexist Foundation reveals that residents of the U.S. and Canada are more likely than Europeans surveyed to be classified as “integrated.” It also reveals that European Muslims and the general publics have different perceptions of European Muslims’ loyalty to their nations.More ...

Catholics Similar to Mainstream on Abortion, Stem Cells

Catholics actually more liberal on some issues

March 30, 2009
American Catholics are no less likely than non-Catholics to find abortion and embryonic stem-cell research morally acceptable. While regular churchgoing Catholics are more conservative than other Catholics on these issues, they are no more conservative than regular churchgoers of other faiths.More ...

Majority of Americans Likely Support Stem Cell Decision

Fifty-two percent support easing Bush-era restrictions or lifting restrictions entirely

March 9, 2009
A majority of Americans likely support President Barack Obama’s executive order Monday allowing for more federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Gallup recently found 38% in favor of fewer restrictions and another 14% in favor of no restrictions at all.More ...
Americans Lean Against Closing Guantanamo

Americans Lean Against Closing Guantanamo

January 21, 2009
More Americans say the prison at Guantanamo Bay military base in Cuba should not be closed (45%) than say it should (35%), but 20% have no opinion on the matter.
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