The CDC has issued a report noting a steep decline in the number of abortions. From the report:
For 2011, a total of 730,322 abortions were reported to CDC. Of these abortions, 98.3% were from 46 reporting areas that submitted data every year during 2002–2011, thus providing the information necessary for evaluating trends.
These 46 areas had an abortion rate of 13.9 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years and an abortion ratio of 219 abortions per 1,000 live births.
Compared with 2010, this represents a 5% decrease in the total number (from 753,065) and rate (from 14.6 abortions per 1,000 women) of reported abortions and a 4% decrease in the abortion ratio (from 228 abortions per 1,000 births). Because of the size of these decreases, combined with decreases from the previous 2 years (15,16), all three measures of abortion reached their lowest level for the entire period of analysis (2002–2011).
That would be good news under the old baloney trope of “safe, legal, and rare.” But pro-choice is fast becoming pro-abortion, whose adherents bristle at the very thought that fetus killing could be immoral or a less favored action than giving birth.
Planned Parenthood executives probably aren’t amused either, as fewer abortions cuts into its revenue stream.
Interesting to note: California has failed to provide detailed abortion statistics, for example, how many adolescents terminated pregnancies. I guess the state knows what it doesn’t want to know; not surprising given that voters twice rejected proposals requiring that parents be notified–not consent, notified–if their minor daughters had an abortion.
The CDC credits fewer unwanted pregnancies as causing the dramatic decline. I hope that is true.
But I think the pro-life movement also deserves credit. These dedicated and often scorned activists have kept abortion at the forefront of America’s moral concerns and promoted laws that have led to fewer abortions.
In any event, there are thousands of people alive today who might otherwise have never seen the light of day. To me, that is reason for applause.
By Wesley J. Smith, Human Exceptionalism
