---
title: "Abortion Views by Religious Affiliation"
description: "Thursday, Jan. 22 marks the 36th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark abortion ruling, Roe v. Wade (1973). Abortion remains a divisive issue in the U.S., with a slim majority (53%) in favor of keeping it legal in all or most cases and four-in-ten in favor of making it illegal in all or most […]"
date: "2009-01-15"
authors:
  - name: "Joseph Liu"
    job_title: "Guest Contributor"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2009/01/15/abortion-views-by-religious-affiliation/"
categories:
  - "Abortion"
  - "Comparison of Religions"
  - "Religion & Abortion"
  - "Religion & Social Values"
  - "Religious Identity & Affiliation"
---

# Abortion Views by Religious Affiliation

Thursday, Jan. 22 marks the 36th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark abortion ruling, *Roe v. Wade* (1973). Abortion remains a divisive issue in the U.S., with a slim majority (53%) in favor of keeping it legal in all or most cases and four-in-ten in favor of making it illegal in all or most cases. However, the [U.S. Religious Landscape Survey](http://religions.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion/), conducted in 2007 by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life, finds that most religious traditions in the U.S. come down firmly on one side or the other. Religious beliefs and practices also influence views on abortion; individuals exhibiting high levels of religious commitment are much more likely to oppose legalized abortion in all or most cases than those who are less-observant.

For an overview of the abortion debate in the U.S., public opinion trends, religious groups' official positions on the issue and more, go to the Pew Forum's [abortion resource page »](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2013/01/16/abortion-research-package/)

![abortion chart](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2012/07/abortion.gif)

Data on "Total U.S. Population" from October 2008 [survey](http://pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/politics/reports/questionnaires/465.pdf#page=16) by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. All other data from the Pew Forum's [U.S. Religious Landscape Survey](http://religions.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion/). For question wording, see the [survey topline](http://religions.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/religion/pdf/report2religious-landscape-study-topline.pdf#page=17).1"Other Faiths" includes Unitarians and other liberal faiths, New Age groups and Native American religions.