Two years ago, the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade and the ‘right’ to an abortion. In the aftermath, many churchgoers say they’ve seen their congregations involved in supporting local pregnancy resource centers.
A Lifeway Research study finds 3 in 10 U.S. Protestant churchgoers (31%) have seen at least one type of congregational connection with local centers since the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research said, “In a survey of Americans conducted days before the Dobbs decision was leaked, almost two-thirds of Americans agreed churches and religious organizations have a responsibility to increase support for women who have unwanted pregnancies if their state restricts access to abortion.”
According to the respondents here’s how churches are supporting the centers:
- 16 percent financially. 14 percent by encouraging those in the congregation to personally support a center financially. 14 percent by encouraging the congregation to refer those with unplanned pregnancies to the center. Another 11% say their church has encouraged the congregation to volunteer at a local pregnancy resource center.
- 44 percent say they don’t know of any connection.
The study also found that younger churchgoers and those who attend more frequently are among the most likely to say their church is working with local pregnancy centers.