Stem-cell research
	Personal view:			Government funding:
	Support	Oppose		Support	Oppose
July 30	63%	33		60	36
June 24	58	30		60	31

While the overall numbers are little changed, there have been some shifts among subgroups. Support for embryonic stem-cell research among white Catholics has gained 11 points to 65 percent, a fresh example of American Catholics' independence from church leaders. Last month Pope John Paul II urged President Bush to reject such research, and the National Council of Catholic Bishops has been a leading opponent.

Support for stem-cell research also has gained some ground, unexpectedly, in two other groups: Up by nine points among conservatives and by 11 points among Republicans. Indeed Republicans and Democrats alike are now in accord on the issue, with six in 10 supporting the research. Fifty-three percent of conservatives now support it as well.

Evangelical white Christians have moved slightly in the opposite direction, their opposition gaining seven points to create an even split, 47-47 percent. And opposition among liberals gained nine points, albeit to only 23 percent.

Bush is deliberating federal funding for stem-cell research, a contentious issue that pits the prospect of potential medical breakthroughs against religious and moral opposition to experimentation on human embryos. Bush opposed this research during the presidential campaign; however, it's supported in this poll by 57 percent of those who say they voted for him last November.

Views on stem-cell research
	June 24		July 30
	Support	Oppose	Support	Oppose
Evangelical white Protestants	50%	40	47	47
White Catholics	54	35	65	33
Non-evangelical white Protestants	70	18	77	19
Conservatives	44	44	53	42
Moderates	63	26	64	32
Liberals	76	14	75	23
Republicans	49	37	60	36
Independents	62	26	67	29
Democrats	65	27	60	36
Whites	60	29	65	31
Blacks	48	44	50	47

Methodology

This ABCNEWS/Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone July 26-30 among a random national sample of 1,352 adults. The results have a 2.5-point error margin. Fieldwork was conducted by TNS Intersearch of Horsham, Pa.