Lenten campaign 2026
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As the massive participation in the 2026 March for Life in Washington shows, enthusiasm within the pro-life cause remains high. According to the latest Knights of Columbus/Marist Poll, carried out January 12-13, 2026, 67% of American adults support placing legal limits on abortion.
“Despite the publicly heated debates about abortion, there remains a consensus of opinion on this issue among Americans. Americans believe abortion should be limited yet include exceptions for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother,” says Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho, Director of the Marist Poll, in a press release accompanying the poll results.
This shows that a majority are aware that abortion is a serious issue, which it is in the interests and duty of the government to regulate — something not granted by the most avid pro-choice advocates. But that’s not all; 57% of poll respondents supported limiting abortions to the first trimester.
Now, the estimated number of abortions per year in the USA ranges from more than 600,000 (according to the CDC) to more than a million (according to the Guttmacher institute). So although reportedly only about 7% of abortions (at most) happen after the first trimester, a first-trimester limit in every state would still save tens of thousands of lives in the womb a year.
A majority (63%) of respondents also recognize that healthcare professionals who object to participating in an abortion due to religious reasons should not be legally required to do so.
Protect them both
Recognizing that women often procure abortion because they feel they don’t have any other choice, 84% of Americans support pregnancy resource centers. These organizations support mothers not only during pregnancy, but also after their child is born. This focus on caring for both the mother and the child is also reflected by the 88% who believe that laws can protect both.
“The Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll continues to show that a majority of Americans support legal restrictions on abortion. At the same time, a growing majority support pregnancy resource centers, which provide assistance to mothers and their children in their time of greatest need,” said Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly in the press release.
Someone might argue that these numbers indicate that the poll targeted religious people who would likely give more pro-life answers. However, the results (PDF) show that 68% of respondents said they do not practice a religion, and only 27% were Catholics (more than half of whom identified as non-practicing). Similarly, respondents were 34% Democrat, 30% Republican, and 35% independent.
Post-Dobbs America
These numbers matter now more than ever. Since the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision, the legal status of abortion has become subject to regulation by each state, and thus more dependent on public opinion and democratic decision making.
While this removal of alleged constitutional protection of the “right” to abortion was a welcome advance for the pro-life cause, the fight for the right to life of the unborn is far from over. This is clear from the range of legislation that has been passed in various states, from strict bans to minimal or no limitations. Overall, however, these numbers show that most people do not support unlimited abortion.
“Once again, most Americans are steadfast in their belief that abortion should be significantly limited yet laws should include exceptions for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother,” says Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho, Director of the Marist Poll. “This clear trend found in the annual Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll has continued, nearly two years after the Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs decision.”
The Knights of Columbus, who were involved in the poll, take a boots-on-the-ground approach to defending life. Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly explains in the press release:
The Knights have supported vulnerable women and their children since our founding by Blessed Michael McGivney more than 140 years ago, and our commitment has never wavered. And now, we’re guided by the encouraging words of Pope Leo XIV, who recently mentioned in his “State of the World” address, “life is a priceless gift,” and that, as Catholics, we have a “fundamental ethical imperative” to “welcome and fully care for unborn life.” The Knights of Columbus’ mission will continue to be guided by these principles until abortion becomes unthinkable.
