A recent poll indicates that most American adults agree with recent Supreme Court rulings on LGBT issues, parental rights, and age verification for websites with sexually explicit content. The Supreme Court ruled that Tennessee could ban medical treatments for minors, including hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and surgeries. The high court ruled that public schools in Maryland must allow parents to withdraw their children from discussions of LGBT topics if they have religious objections. The poll revealed that 77% of Americans believe schools should allow parents to remove their children from conversations on gender and sexuality.
5 months ago
A recent poll indicates that the majority of American adults generally agree with several landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions concerning parental authority, restrictions on transgender medical treatments for minors, and age verification for sexually explicit content online 1. This survey, conducted by YouGov for its SCOTUSpoll project in April 2025, found public sentiment largely in line with the Court's subsequent rulings in June 2025 1.
The Supreme Court recently upheld Tennessee's ability to ban medical treatments like hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and surgeries for transgender minors 1. The poll revealed that 64% of Americans believe states should have this power, though there was a significant partisan divide: 90% of Republicans and 63% of Independents agreed, compared to 38% of Democrats 1.
In another ruling, the Court affirmed that public schools in Maryland must permit parents to withdraw their children from discussions on LGBT topics if they hold religious objections 1. A substantial 77% of Americans surveyed supported this parental right, with agreement across political affiliations, including 89% of Republicans, 69% of Democrats, and 72% of Independents 1.
The Court also upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for pornography websites, deeming it constitutional 1. This decision resonated with 80% of Americans, who believe states should be able to mandate such verification; support was high among Republicans (88%), Democrats (75%), and Independents (77%) 1.
Following the Supreme Court's decision on transgender medical intervention, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it has issued over 20 subpoenas to doctors and clinics involved in child transgender medical procedures 1. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that these investigations include potential healthcare fraud and false statements, asserting that medical professionals who "mutilated children" will be held accountable 1.
How does the Church define parental rights and human dignity?
The Catholic Church defines parental rights as original, primary, and inalienable, emphasizing their crucial role in the education and upbringing of children . Human dignity, on the other hand, is understood as an inherent quality of every human being from conception until natural death, stemming from being created in the image and likeness of God .
Parents have the fundamental right and duty to educate their children, a right that is considered essential because it is connected with the transmission of human life . This right is:
The Church also teaches that civil society should provide the necessary aid and assistance to parents to properly fulfill their educational role . This can include government support through means like tax credits and publicly funded scholarships to help parents, especially those of modest means, exercise their right to choose the best education for their children .
The Church's understanding of human dignity is foundational to its moral and social teachings. It is defined by several key aspects:
In summary, the Church views parental rights as a fundamental and irreplaceable responsibility tied to the transmission of life and the integral education of children, while human dignity is an intrinsic and inviolable quality of every person from conception, rooted in their creation in the image of God.