The recent conflict between President Obama and the Catholic Church over requiring health plans to cover contraceptives, even when those plans are paid for by organizations affiliated with religions that oppose birth control like the Catholic Church, has drawn the attention of most Americans. More than half of the public in the latest Economist/YouGov Poll (Week of 2/18/2012) were aware that the President originally wanted those religious organizations to provide birth control in their health plans; 73% had heard about the compromise.
But the conflict is a non-conflict for most Americans – Republican, Democrat, and Catholic. Asked whether they found birth control to be "morally acceptable" or "morally wrong," the vast majority in all groups agreed that birth control was acceptable.
Despite the lack of partisan difference on the substance of birth control, Republican voters in last week’s Economist/YouGov Poll opposed the Obama Administration health care plan compromise. But it has not yet become a GOP nomination issue. Most GOP voters can’t state frontrunner Rick Santorum’s position on birth control.
Economist/YouGov poll archives can found here.
Photo source: Press Association
