Abortion facts

So, I know most people don't want to talk about abortion these days. But, unfortunately there is some mis-information out there. So, I thought I'd bring some facts into the conversation.

There is an assumption being made that GWB has done "nothing" for the right-to-life issues over the last 8 years. Although perhaps not huge headlines, G-dub has been a part of some great decisions in that regard. . .here are some examples:

(HT: Joe Carter)

PROMISE: Prohibit federal funds for international family-planning groups that provide abortion-related services. (YES. By a directive issued Jan. 22, 2001.)
PROMISE: Sign legislation banning a late-term procedure opponents call "partial-birth" abortion. (YES. Nov. 5, 2003.)

Also, the "Born Alive Act" went through both houses of Congress. This act states that you cannot "finish off" an abortion if the child is fully outside the womb (conceivably because some mistake was made during the abortion).

As well, it should be noted, that abortions have gone down under President Bush. I'm not sure he deserves most of the credit for that, but with the "Freedom of Choice" act on the table right now, its important to note that a Pro-life president does have some influence over public policy/judicial decisions on this issue. By the way, if the "Freedom of Choice Act" gets passed in the future, I would have to think that abortions would undoubtedly rise.

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(HT: Theologica)

USNews.com has an article on research from the Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit group that focuses on reproductive issues. These findings were published in the March 2008 issue of the Institute's journal, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health.

The actual number of abortions dropped to a new low, with 1.2 million abortions in 2005, compared to a high of 1.6 million abortions in 1990.

The report does not include an analysis of why the levels have continued to decline. "We don't regard [the findings] as good or bad," Jones said. "It's a descriptive study."

The abortion rate for 2005 was 19.4 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44. In comparison, the rate was 29.3 abortions per 1,000 women in 1981, 21.3 abortions per 1,000 women in 2000, and 19.7 abortions per 1,000 women in 2004.

[HT: Alex Chediak]


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Those numbers may seem a bit numbing. But, basically there were 400,000 less abortions in 2005 than there were in 1990 (and a decline from 2004 to 2005).

It's still reprehensible, . . but that's 400,000 lives.


Here's hoping and praying these numbers continue to decline until this is an unthinkable procedure.


Aaron