With an executive order, President Obama lifted the limits on funding for human embryonic-stem-cell research yesterday, research supported by 51% of Americans in a September 2007 Pew Research survey. While a majority say it is more important to conduct stem-cell research that might result in new medical cures, 35% say protecting the potential life of embryos is more important. The issue divides the public along political lines, with Democrats, independents, liberals and moderates supporting stem-cell research and Republicans and conservatives opposing. The debate also cuts along religious lines, with the unaffiliated, white mainline Protestants and white non-Hispanic Catholics supporting research and white evangelicals siding with protecting potential human life. Black Protestants and white non-Hispanic Catholics who attend church at least weekly are split on the issue. Obama also issued a presidential memorandum directing federal agencies to “restore scientific integrity” to public policy decisions. According to a spring 2007 Pew Research survey, more than six-in-ten disagree that they are “worried that science is going too far and hurting society rather than helping it,” while roughly a third (34%) agree with the statement. Race and education are by far the most important factors in opinions about whether science is helping or hurting society. Read More
Stem Cell Support
Russell Heimlich is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.