Study: Nearly half of those morally opposed to abortion would still help a loved one to get one

A new analysis sheds light on the moral ambiguity in some Americans’ opposition to abortion, as many would help a friend or close relative obtain the procedure despite opposing it on moral grounds.

More specifically, over 40% of those morally opposed to abortion would help make arrangements for a friend or close relative while only six percent would help pay for the procedure. An even higher number – 76% – of those morally opposed said they would provide emotional support to those obtaining abortions.

The researchers cautioned against accusing participants of hypocrisy, instead describing them as encountering a “moral crossroads.”

“At first blush, these people may appear as hypocrites,” said Sarah Cowan, NYU sociology professor and lead author on the study. “They are not. They are at a moral crossroads, pulled by their opposition to abortion and by their inclination to support people they care about.”  

That data came from the 2018 General Social Survey (GSS) but the authors also probed 74 in-depth interviews from the National Abortion Attitudes Study in 2019. That informed the researchers’ view of “discordant benevolence,” which refers to the willingness to help despite conflicts with personal values.

READ: Abortion almost destroyed her life, but a year later, she found healing

NYU’s release read: “Three logics dominate: one, a view that friends or family members are worthy of help despite imperfections; two, that friends and family constitute an exception precisely because they are friends/family; and three, that friends or family members make independent moral decisions. All three logics—which the researchers name ‘commiseration,’ ‘exemption,’ and ‘discretion,’ respectively—facilitate discordant benevolence.”

The findings echo discussions over Americans supporting legal access to abortion despite being personally pro-life. Entities within the pro-life movement, such as pregnancy centers, have supported counseling for pre- and post-abortive women but do not endorse abortion itself. 

“Our service is not contingent upon what choice she makes,” Houston Pregnancy Help Center CEO Sylvia Johnson previously told Fox News. “We’re going to serve her if she continues the pregnancy, and we’re going to serve her if she decides to terminate the baby. We’re not going to pay for the abortion and we’re not going to refer her to an abortion clinic.”

“But if she chooses to terminate her pregnancy, that does not stop us from helping her maybe with her other children, maybe in the future — that’s who we are,” she said. “That’s our heart.”   

The popular pro-life slogan “Love them both” also underscores the imperative the movement places on assisting mothers dealing with unplanned pregnancies. Even after abortions, ministries like Rachel’s Vineyard are available for women seeking healing and recovery. 

Editor’s Note: If someone you know is considering abortion, OptionLine can help them find life-affirming local support. If someone you know is suffering after an abortion, visit the resources here.

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