WASHINGTON -- a study showing a decrease in the number of U.S. abortion facilities "should be welcomed by all who believe that there are just too many abortions in our country, including those who favor legal abortion," said an official of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities.

Helen Alvare, director of planning and information for the pro-life office, was commenting on a report released Dec. 11 in New York by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, an affiliate of the Planned Parenthood Federation of america.

The study showed that between 1992 and 1996, the latest year for which statistics are available, the number of facilities were abortions are performed fell by 14 percent to the lowest total since 1974.  There were 2,042 hospitals, clinics and physicians' offices proving such services in 1996, compared to 2,380 in 1992 and 2,004 in 1974.

"This is more good news about Americans' increasing disaffection with abortion, coming as it does on the heels of other reports showing declines in the number and rate of abortions in the United States," Alvare said.

The institute also has reported that from 1992 to 1996 the number of U.S. abortions declined by 11 percent from 1.53 million to 1.37 million and the abortion rate decreased 12 percent from 26 to 23 per 1,000 women aged 15-44.

Alvare said other studies show that "rates of teenage sexual involvement are also dropping. and fewer young people are adopting pro-abortion positions."

"At this time in the life of our country, abortion remains legal," she added.  "But the public's level of distress is growing not only with abortion itself, but with the non marital sexual relationships that lead to most abortions.

"Now more than ever, those who offer alternatives to abortion and alternatives to the idea of casual sex should step forward with new confidence," Alvare said.  "People are ready to listen."

An official of the National Right to Life Committee also praised the Guttmacher statistics, saying the declines could be attributed to "the efforts of pro-lifers across the country who have worked to educate Americans about the truth of abortion."

Laura Echevarria, director of media relations for the committee, added, "When people are told the truth about abortion -- that it takes the life of an unborn child -- they reject abortion.

"While we are pleased to see a drop in the number of abortions, it remains a tragedy that 1.37 million unborn children died in 1996 and many more have died since then," Echevarria said.  "The pro-life movement will continue its education and legislative efforts to protect women and their unborn children from abortion."
 

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Copyright ©1998 Arlington Catholic Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.

This article was published in the Arlington Catholic Herald,
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 607, Arlington, VA 22203; Vol 23, No 50;
dated Dec. 17, 1998, on page 20.
E-mail: letters@catholicherald.com
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A note from the Web Master:

It is noteworthy and honorable that some folks are willing to stand up for a ban on Partial-Birth Abortion.  Let us not forget that ordinary everyday Abortion is also murder.  We must understand that murder is murder no matter the method.  Because one method of abortion seems to be horrible does not justify the other methods.  We should be horrified and sickened by any Abortion regardless of the method.  The Fifth Commandment spells it out clearly: "Thou shalt not kill."  A fetus is a person, a human being with a God given soul.  Imagine the pain the Lord must feel when any Abortion occurs.  Please contact both of your Senators and Representative, via letter or phone,  to let them know how horrified you are that Abortions are legal and to stop Partial-Birth Abortions and all other Abortions as soon as possible. (It has become apparent recently that they do not respond to email therefore you will have more of an impact by writing or telephoning.)

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