Missionaries of the Sacred

Abortion: Neither True Choice Nor True Solution

There are currently over 1 million induced abortions in the United States each year. Worldwide, 1 in 5 pregnancies end in abortion.¹¹ Explore this page to find out more about abortion in the United States, who has abortions and why, where to find help if you are facing a crisis pregnancy or suffering from a previous abortion as well as important information about fetal development and adoption.

Abortion is not the solution. The Catholic Church has always held that the intentional destruction of innocent life is not a "choice" because human life is sacred from conception until natural death. Nor does abortion solve underlying problems such as poverty, unstable/unhealthy relationships, discrimination in the workplace and a general lack of respect for the precious gift of life evident on many levels of society today. Feeling like you have to choose between your life and your baby's life is not really having a "choice". Feeling like you have to choose between providing for the children you already have and for the baby on the way is not really "choice".

The solution to abortion lies within each and every one of us. It requires action on the political, socioeconomic and cultural levels. It is the recognition that abortion destroys an innocent life and therefore alternatives must be found. It is the reaching out to an individual woman and helping her exercise her "choice" to have her child through both emotional and material support. It is working to create a culture of life, where pregnancy is seen as a joyous time of expectation and not a burden that hinders one's job prospects or educational opportunities. It is opening your heart and your home to a child. The bad news is that 1 in 5 pregnancies in the USA end in induced abortion. The good news is that there are many, many opportunities for each of us to become part of the solution.  Being right isn't always enough. Each and every one of us can put our respect for life into action and help reduce the number of abortions in this country. Be sure to check out some ways to get involved.