Feedback.

Q: If my job required me to act against deeply held religious and/or moral convictions, I would probably ...

Hope that I would have the courage to quit.

Kathleen Kohl Sidney, Neb.

Change jobs or leave. This is why I always work for a Catholic hospital.

Patricia Moeller Millville, Calif.

Quit. However, I'm retired. When I was raising our four children, the decision would have been more difficult.

Hugh DeWig Kittredge, Colo.

Work to change it from the inside. Quitting would be among the last options.

Father Kevin Forsyth Plainville, Conn.

Quit my job. I say that now, but I don't know if in my youth I would have had the moral courage to do it.

Margaret Robinson Saint Ignace, Mich.

Refuse. I cannot and would not betray my heartfelt religious convictions.

Name withheld Baltimore, Md.

I was a manager in an insurance company that insured abortion providers. I spoke out and did pay the consequences.

Don Bongiorno Buena Vista, Colo.

Quit. I can always get another job or career. I have to be able to live with my actions.

Christopher M. Murano East Meadow, N.Y.

Pray for strength, then make the moral decision not to compromise my beliefs.

Mark Thomas Cincinnati, Ohio

Q: The time I felt most pressured to d my own beliefs about abortion was the time when ...

One of my sisters got pregnant outside of marriage, and I understood why people take the easy way out. Thankfully, she did not.

Name withheld Glen Cove, N.Y.

Every time I have to vote, the choice is often between a lousy candidate who is prolife or an otherwise good candidate who is for abortion rights.

James Kash Hickory Hills, Ill.

My teenage children were forming their ideas about the issue.

Peter Bloome Corvallis, Ore.

My teenage daughter became pregnant.

Name withheld Lake Mary, Fla.

I'm with liberal/progressive friends such as Call to Action Catholics who regard being prolife as about as abhorrent as being racist.

Name withheldRiverside, Ill.

After careful planning and a lot of work, our parish's Respect Life Sunday was met with general apathy and downright hostility from some.

Name withheld Apple Valley, Calif.

I needed to have amniocentesis to determine if my child had a genetic defect. I let my doctor know that if the procedure was being done just to offer the chance to abort, I didn't want the procedure done.

Joanne M. Pasko Akron, Ohio

As a recruiter, I was given the responsibility to fill jobs for the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League.

Barbara Finan Columbus, Ohio

I've never felt particularly pressured about this. It is so clear that abortion is murder, morally and scientifically, that it is not difficult to defend being prolife.

Name withheld Newport, R.I.

Q: When I think of the Catholic Church's strong prolife stance, I ...

Am proud to be Catholic.

Marty Martinez Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Wonder why her stance isn't equally as strong regarding sexism and racism.

Name withheld St. Stephen's Way, Wyo.

Am grateful that it has the courage to consistently stand firm in supporting human life from womb to tomb.

Claude Kastenholz Yorba Linde, Calif.

Admire its consistency, but I struggle with its seeming judgmental attitude toward people who may not be there yet.

Deacon Ralph L. Hueser Omaha, Neb.

Am embarrassed. I think the Catholic Church causes more abortions than it stops because of its socially irresponsible and backward anti-birth control stance.

Michael D. Flynn Philadelphia, Penn.

Think it sometimes comes off as somewhat one-sided. Life situations are very complex.

Name withheld Perris, Calif.

Understand the church must provide an example of the ideal moral choice. However, each woman must make her own decision, according to her own personal relationship with God, and accept whatever consequences derive from her choice.

Name withheld New Carlisle, Ind.

Think of the "seamless garment." I cannot separate abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, and war. They are all equally important.

Joe Mortell Joliet, Ill.

Think they are trying to pass judgment on women. God is the only one who truly knows the situation.

Name withheld Evansville, Wyo.

Support it, but do not attempt to force my beliefs on my non-Catholic friends.

Name withheld Green Bay, Wis.

Am concerned and saddened that some people are so adamantly opposed to taking the life of an unborn child, but have no qualms about taking the life of an abortion clinic employee.

Name withheld Cedar Rapids, Iowa

We are very prom of the faithfulness our church has shown in promoting the gospel of life. We hope it continues to recognize the needs of other vulnerable and marginalized people in society.

John and Patricia Rogers Frederick, Md.

General Comments

I don't think this issue will resolve itself until we as a society address the question both sides have ignored: What factors within our socioeconomic and political systems make it necessary for women to choose abortion over other options?

Arthur A. Boccaccio Baldwinsville, N.Y.

Abortion has become much too easy an answer for some women's irresponsible behavior. Except for rape and incest, women need to be in control of their emotions and think about the consequences of their actions.

Angela DiLouie Plainsboro, N.J.

While I agree with the church's stand, I think some prolife organizations do more harm than good. Their fanaticism and legalistic approach turn many people off. We need a "kinder and gentler" prolife movement.

Connie Armstrong Boonville, N.Y.

As adoptive parents, we're grateful for two birthmothers who were prolife in tough times. So are our children!

Jacob P. Heererna Grandville, Mich.

The real issue is the credibility of the church on this issue, primarily because of the Vatican's continued insistence on condemning all forms of birth control. Had the church been more reasonable about contraception, we would see the majority of cars in church parking lots displaying prolife bumper stickers.

Name withheld Waukesha, Wis.

As a mother of six and grandmother, I cannot condone abortion. However, I also cannot make someone else's choice for them. I do not live in their shoes or life.

Teresa Mottet Richland, Iowa

I do not think being prolife is the litmus test for being Catholic.

Susan Logsdon Walla Walla, Wash.

RELATED ARTICLE: AND THE SURVEY SAYS ...

1. In general, I would describe my own beliefs about abortion as being:

38%   Strongly prolife.
50%   Moderately prolife.
40%   Neutral, agreeing at
      different times with
      each side.
3%    Decidedly neutral,
      being confused or
      fed up with the
      polarization around
      the issue.
2%    Moderately
      prochoice.
1%    Strongly prochoice.
2%    Other.

2. The Catholic position on abortion and euthanasia is usually fairly presented in mainstream media.

agree      26%
disagree   72%
other      2%

3. I agree with Dr, Dowling that there is a strong link between the acceptance of abortion and the acceptance of euthanasia.

agree      82%
disagree   14%
other      4%

4. Pharmacists who "conscientiously object' to filling a prescription for abortioninducing medications are still morally culpable if they recommend another pharmacist who will comply.

agree      5%
disagree   41%
other      9%

5. On the whole, I think managed care ... (Check all that apply)

60%   Does a great
      disservice to patients,
      making money the
      central issue and
      discouraging many
      prolife options.
23%   Neither encourages
      nor discourages a
      strong prochoice
      tendency that's
      already operating in
      American culture.
22%   Does more good
      than harm by
      making health care
      available to people
      who otherwise
      couldn't afford it.
7%    Other.

These results are based on survey responses from 238 U.S. CATHOLIC readers and Web site visitors.

Join the conversation--online. In addition to a sample of subscribers, all are invited to respond to U.S. CATHOLIC'S monthly Sounding Board survey at www.uscathotic.org. This month, join U.S. CATHOLIC readers as they give their opinions on cohabitation before marriage.