Nearly One In Five U.S. Churchgoers Have Been Directly Involved In Abortion, Study Finds

Key Facts

Published: October 22, 2025 Location: Washington D.C. Source: Family Research Council

• Nearly 1 in 5 American churchgoers say they have personally paid for, encouraged, or chosen to have an abortion, according to a new Family Research Council study.
• The survey revealed that while 19% of respondents were directly involved in abortion, most churches rarely discuss the issue from the pulpit.
• 43% of churchgoers identify as pro-life, 35% as pro-choice, and a significant portion say their views could still be swayed.
• FRC’s David Closson urged pastors to address abortion with both biblical conviction and compassion, emphasizing healing and forgiveness for those affected.

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – Nearly one in five American churchgoers say they have personally paid for, encouraged, or chosen to have an abortion, according to a new study revealing that most churches rarely address the issue despite its personal impact on congregations.

The Family Research Council (FRC), in partnership with the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, surveyed 1,003 churchgoers in July.

The findings showed that 19 percent of respondents had been directly involved in an abortion — up from 16 percent reported in 2023.

“This issue is not merely theoretical,” said David Closson, director of the FRC’s Center for Biblical Worldview, in remarks published by The Christian Post newspaper. “It affects, in a very personal way, almost 20 percent of the people in our congregations. Pastors need to be recommitted to applying God’s Word.”

Closson pointed to Psalm 139:13–16 and Luke 1:39–45 as passages affirming the sanctity of human life. “There are people who have been hurt and stung by the sin of abortion,” he added. “What an opportunity to speak truth into those situations.”

CHURCH VIEWS REMAIN DIVIDED

The survey found that 43 percent of churchgoers identify as “pro-life,” while 35 percent describe themselves as “pro-choice.” Another 8 percent said they lean pro-choice but could be convinced otherwise, while 7 percent lean pro-life but remain open to change.

When asked how often their churches address abortion, 41 percent said the topic comes up several times a year. However, 13 percent reported it is discussed only once a year, and 23 percent said their church never talks about abortion.

A plurality (38 percent) said they were comfortable with the current level of discussion, while 25 percent wanted it addressed more often, and 18 percent preferred less frequent mention.

When asked which statement best reflected the Bible’s teaching on abortion, 26 percent said it is “not acceptable under any circumstances.”

Another 19 percent said it is acceptable “only when the life of the mother is endangered.”

SOME SAY ABORTION ‘ACCEPTABLE’

Smaller shares expressed other views: 12 percent said abortion is acceptable only if the child would have severe mental or physical challenges; 9 percent said it is up to the couple involved; and 4 percent said abortion is acceptable under any circumstances.

About 16 percent said they did not know or felt “none of the statements matched Scripture.”

The survey also explored political attitudes. Less than half (46 percent) said biblical teaching about abortion and a candidate’s character most influence their votes. Others cited economic or social issues.

The most common political identifiers among churchgoers were “mostly conservative” (19 percent) and “mostly moderate” (18 percent), followed by “consistently conservative” (15 percent), “consistently moderate” (12 percent), and “mostly progressive or liberal” (11 percent).

The findings come as abortion remains one of America’s most divisive moral and political issues.

MANY ABORTIONS REPORTED

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 613,383 abortions in 2022, with an abortion rate of 11.2 per 1,000 women aged 15–44.

A separate study by the Society of Family Planning’s #WeCount project estimated that 1.14 million abortions were performed in 2024, the highest total in recent years — despite differing state laws and restrictions following the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that overturned Roe v. Wade.

Closson said the results show why churches must balance biblical conviction with compassion. “This is an opportunity for the church to proclaim forgiveness, healing, and truth — not condemnation,” he explained.

The FRC report concluded that abortion’s impact “is not a distant political debate but a deeply personal issue within America’s pews,” affecting millions who continue to seek both spiritual and emotional healing.

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