4. Attitudes in the U.K.

4.1　Attitudes towards Belief

In a 2007 survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of the broadcaster and writer John Humphries, 42% of the participants believed religion had a harmful effect.

Church of England not important say most people—YouGov, 2005

In a large-scale YouGov poll of over 3 500 people, the Church of England came 32nd out of 37 in a list of what people think defines Britishness. Only 17% of respondents thought that the Church of England was “very important” in contributing to a sense of Britishness, while 23% thought it was “not important at all”.

Families at prayer? As congregations shrink, half of children with two religious parents reject church—ESRC, August 2005

Religious belief is declining faster than attendance at services in the U.K., according to a study funded by the ESRC which found that parents’ beliefs, practices and affiliations have the biggest impact on children.

Young People in Britain: The Attitudes and Experiences of 12-19 Year Olds—research report for the DfES, 2004

65% of young people are not religious. Though religious belief amongst the young has declined by 10% in less than 10 years, moral attitudes have not and fewer young people are racially prejudiced.

4.2　On Faith Schools

In an Ipsos Mori poll commissioned by the teachers union NASWUT and Unison in April 2010, when asked which group is the most appropriate to run state-funded schools, only 4% answered “religious organisations”. When asked which group should not run state-funded schools, 35% said religious organisations （the highest figure obtained by any organisation listed）.

In a YouGov/Accord poll of June 2009:

● 57% believed that state-funded schools that selected students according to their religion harm community cohesion.

● 72% agreed or strongly agreed that all schools should implement recruitment andemployment policies that do not discriminate on grounds of religion or belief.

● 74% held the view that all state schools should teach an objective and balanced syllabus for education about a wide range of religious and non-religious beliefs. According to the British Social Attitudes Survey 2010, 42% of all those questioned are against any form of faith school.

4.3　On Assisted Dying

Polls taken on the issue of assisted suicide consistently demonstrate the majority of the public wish the law to be reformed, and to create a humane and ethical law on assisted dying.

According to the 26th report of the British Social Attitudes Survey published in 2010, 71% of religious people and 92% non-religious （82% in total） believe that a doctor should be allowed to end the life of a patient with an incurable disease.

In a January 2010 poll conducted for the BBC by ComRes, 75% of those questioned supported Physician Assisted suicide for the terminally ill.

A further poll taken in January 2010 by YouGov for the Daily Telegraph, 75% of the sample agreed that the law on Assisted Suicide should“Be amended to allow some people, such as doctors and/or close relatives to assist a suicide in particular circumstances”.

In a Populus Poll for the Times in July 2009, 74% supported a change in the law legalising assisted suicide in the cases of individuals with a terminal illness.

During the debate over Lord Joffe’s Private Members Bill legalising Assisted Suicide in 2004, a YouGov poll found 80% of the public supported the intentions of the Bill.

4.4　On Abortion and Contraception

There is a consensus in the U.K. that abortion is justified in cases of a health risk to the parent or a defect has been diagnosed, with the British Social Attitudes Survey finding that, overall 78% of the U.K. population supports choice in these circumstances. However, whilst 86% of people categorised as un-religious were in favour, the religious were less supportive, with 67% supporting abortion rights where there is a health risk.

Only 6% of Catholics questioned in a poll by YouGov for ITV agreed that abortion should never be allowed, and only 11% believed abortion should only permitted as an indirect consequence of a life-saving treatment for the mother.

In contrast 30% agreed that abortion should be a matter of individual choice, and 44% agreed that abortion should be permitted on grounds of “rape, incest, severe disability to thechild or as an indirect consequence of life-saving treatment for the mother”.

Only 4% of Catholic adults questioned believed artificial contraception is wrong and should not be used. 71% agreed it should be moved more often, 23% believed it was a matter entirely for couples.

A 2006 survey conducted by Ipsos Mori for the British Pregnancy Advisory Service（BPAS）, found that 63% of the representative sample agreed with the statement that “if a woman wants an abortion, she should not have to continue with her pregnancy” while 18% disagreed with this.

This level of support has been tracked by a series of polls since the 1980s. In the earliest polls Ipsos Mori found 54% of respondents agreed that “abortions should be made legally available for all who want it”, and this number has generally been slowly rising.

In 2007, the organisation Catholics for Choice commissioned a poll from YouGov on religious opinion towards abortion, and the involvement of Catholic Bishops in the political debate concerning abortion law. In response to the statement:

“It should be legal for a woman to have an abortion when she has an unwanted pregnancy”

● 63% of all respondents to the poll strongly agreed or agreed （14% disagreed or strongly disagreed）;

● 58% of self-identified Protestants strongly agreed or agreed （19% disagreed or strongly disagreed）;

● 43% of self-identified Catholics strongly agreed or agreed （27% disagreed or strongly disagreed）.

“Catholic bishops concentrate too much of their attention on abortion when there are other issues that also require their attention”

● 64% of all respondents to the poll strongly agreed or agreed （8% disagreed or strongly disagreed）;

● 68 % of self-identified Protestants strongly agreed or agreed （7% disagreed or strongly disagreed）;

● 42% of self-identified Catholics strongly agreed or agreed （27% disagreed or strongly disagreed）.

4.5　On Medical Research

In the British Social Attitudes Survey, when asked “medical research on embryos shouldprobably or definitely be allowed”, 61% of religious respondents agreed, compared to 77% non-religious respondents.