The abortion crisis is fragmenting our Church and our nation. However, simply making abortion illegal will not solve this act of violence. Abortion is a worldwide, historical crisis involving social and economic issues. A plethoria of surveys and media headlines seem to confuse this complex problem but some interesting surveys can help clarify the issues facing the Pro-Life movement. Catholics can be better equipped to come up with real-life solutions for pregnant women if they review and understand the collected data surrounding abortion.
Christians and more specifically the Catholic Church should research reasons for abortion. Improving education or prayers in schools are fine ideas, unfortunately, they alone will not solve the motives for choosing to have an abortion. In my opinion, solutions to solve the abortion crisis involve ideas based on national economic and social reforms, because churches and other institutions cannot resolve this alone.
What are your ideas? Can we together, develop ideas to combat this scourge?
Is Anyone Asking Why?
Research is limited on the specific question of why women choose to terminate. Many institutions neither asked nor researched this question. I contacted Gallup and could not find any research. I also reached out to the USCCB, The Archdiocese of New York, and searched data on the internet where some information was located.
Legality and the Numbers
Many Catholics believe if the States simply pass laws making abortions either illegal or restrict access, the rate of terminations will decrease. However, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an American reproductive health non-profit:
the abortion rate is 37 per 1,000 people in countries that prohibit abortion altogether or allow it only in instances to save a woman’s life, and 34 per 1,000 people in countries that broadly allow for abortion, a difference that is not statistically significant (Amnesty International).
Terminology and Education
One of the problems is an institutional failure to communicate the importance of and the mystery of a life, of a soul. There are interesting insights from the McGrath Institute for Church Life, “How Americans Understand Abortion” :
Research found mutually exclusive labels like “pro-choice” and “pro-life” paint an incomplete, potentially misleading, picture. When you really ask people what form their beliefs on abortion, they point to personal experience and relationships, not political policies, rhetoric.
Most Americans a.) do not actually discuss abortion. b.) do not fit within binary position labels, c.) have significant knowledge gaps on the topic d.) do not regard abortion as a societal good.
Many admit lacking basic knowledge about gestational development, moral framework, their state law and the costs (financial, physical, mental) of abortion.
The Divisions
By recognizing the divisions within our society, we might discover what is separating us, leading toward a possible way of unifying our views.
- A study revealed the complexity of Americans’ views on abortion and openness to discussion. Among the report’s key findings was unanimous agreement that abortion isn’t a “desirable good.” (M. Hadro/CNA/EWTN/NEWS/Nation ).
- A Gallup poll reveals, for first time in two decades, more Americans believe abortion “morally acceptable” than “morally wrong” (C. Rousselle/CNANation).
A poll reveals, those 47% stating abortion is acceptable, is 2% points higher than recorded in two decades (Megan Brenan):
47%: abortion is morally acceptable; 46%, morally wrong.
Americans split between “pro-choice” (49%) and “pro-life” (47%)
48% want legalization with limits, 32% completely legal, 19% illegal
Collecting Accurate Information
There’s an incomplete approach to data collection. Information is maintained by the states, with some choosing not to collect data. Figures for 2018, were not expected until mid-2021. New Abortion Trends in the United States: A First Look (Tessa Longbons).
Abortion Data
Approximately 18% of pregnancies in the U.S. end in abortion, (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). We must ask why and create solutions preventing termination. So what does the data reflect of whom receives abortions and their reasons? For 2018, 619,591 abortions were reported from 49 reporting areas (CDC Abortion Surveillance-U.S.). Numbers and statistics can be very confusing, however, if we do not try to understand them, we cannot resolve the problem and hence the reasons of those obtaining an abortion.
The Research, Reasons for termination are multiple, bringing the tally above 100%, from 2008-2010:
40% Not financially prepared.
36% Not ready, unplanned.
31% Poor partner relationships,
29% Must focus on other children.
20% Pregnancy interferes with educational and vocational plans while 19% of reasons stated they were not emotionally or mentally prepared.
12% Health-related issues and for reasons desiring a better life for the baby than could be provided.
Other reasons were: mothers considered themselves not independent nor mature enough; were influenced by family/friends; or they didn’t want a baby nor place the child for adaption.
Other Issues and Explanations:
Over half of those having abortions were already mothers and they already faced economic hardships: 51% of them lived below federal poverty level; three-fourths had insufficient funds for housing, transportation, food.
Note, for unplanned pregnancies, 42% of children are aborted (Ireland, MD.).
For those reporting themselves as Catholics, 67% believed: Roe v. Wade should not be overturned. (www.pewresearch.org).
- The age factor, about 25% of U.S. women under 45 undergo abortion, while in 2018, women in their 20’s accounted for 57.7% of abortions (Guttmacher Institute).
- While rates, for all women, were decreasing from 2009-2018, from 2017-2018, the total number of abortions and abortion rate increased 1% (CDC Abortion Surveillance-U.S.).
International findings from 14 countries, U.S. included: little variation exists by sociodemographic characteristics. Abortions occur for a variety of reasons ( Elsevier Inc. Guttmacher Institute):
Failure of social support for assistance.
Fear of poverty.
Women denied abortions had a.) Higher odds of poverty 6 months after birth, than women receiving abortions, b.) Were less likely to be employed full-time, c.) More likely to receive public assistance, and d) more likely to be in poverty 4 years later (Socioeconomic Outcomes of Women Who Receive and Women Who Are Denied Wanted Abortions in the United States).
Do you have ideas for moving forward, possible solutions, or resolutions to the problems facing pregnant women? Information can enlighten, reduce fears, and save lives.
This article first appeared on The Catholic Stand
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