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From
LifeDate - Spring 2006.
The Abortion Legacy
by Diane E. Schroeder, President, Lutherans For Life
January 22, 2006 marked the 33rd anniversary
of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that effectively
legalized abortion in our country for any reason for all nine months
of the pregnancy. Abortion in our country is certainly not “rare.”
Rather, it is an epidemic. Here are the statistics:
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46 million babies have died
since 1973
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1.3 million abortions are
performed annually (that’s 3500 per day, 145 per hour)
-
25% of all pregnancies are
aborted
-
48% of women having abortions
have had at least one previous abortion
We oppose abortion because it is wrong
and against what God says about life in His Word. This mere “medical
procedure” which mocks God has taken its toll—often in ways never
anticipated by those advocating the right to “choose” to kill unborn
children.
What is the effect on the economy with
the loss of 46 million people? You may think that our economy would
have a hard time assimilating 46 million people. But don’t forget
that they are consumers as well. We have 46 million less workers
earning, spending, saving, paying taxes, consuming, buying houses,
cars, etc.—people who would put money (and creative energy) into the
economy with their purchases and create jobs because of their needs.
In its 2000 report, the Social Security Administration predicted in
its long term forecast that GNP will slow primarily due to the
slower projected growth in the labor force and employment.
What about Social Security where
benefits to retirees are being financed by taxes paid by current
workers? It is projected that in 2030 the ratio of beneficiaries to
workers will grow from 32 per 100 workers to 46 per 100 workers. It
is estimated, by the National Right to Life Committee, that in 1998
alone, the victims of abortion would have contributed 1.7 billion to
Medicare and 7.4 billion to Social Security. That would have been
enough to pay for 785,000 retired workers.
What about our aging population? By
2030, our country will look like Florida where older people (defined
as 65 and older) will be 20 percent of the population. The fastest
growing segment of the population will be the “oldest old” or those
85 and over which will grow from four million in 2000 to 21 million
by 2050. This is the group that is of most concern to policymakers
because they are more likely to be “disabled.” And we haven’t even
covered the effect of this “birth dearth” on cultural values.
Of course, the acceptance of abortion
has led us down the slippery slope where human life has no absolute
value. The value of individuals has become completely relative,
based on their usefulness to society. This has led to embryonic stem
cell research, human cloning, assisted suicide, and the starving of
the handicapped. We as a culture no longer tolerate individuals in
our human community who are less than perfect. Do you ever wonder
what happened to kids affected with Down syndrome? Current studies
have indicated an abortion rate of 90 percent for these people.
The effects of abortion go on and
on—including a dramatic rise in pre-marital and extra-marital sexual
activity. Currently 65 million people in the U.S. have an incurable
sexually transmitted disease (STD). At least 1 in 4 Americans will
contract an STD in their lifetime and teenagers make up one-fourth
of all new STD infections. We must also consider the emotional
damage from abortion on the women and men who made those decisions,
grandparents, siblings, and spouses. (Whole books have been written
on that subject.)
When I go out and speak, sometimes an
older individual will come up and say, “I’m so glad I have that
behind me,” as if abortion no longer affects them—their children are
grown up, they have survived its tragedy. But nothing could be
further from the truth. Abortion has left its legacy everywhere; on
our culture, demographics, economy, youth, and Church.
Thank God that He is in charge. Even
though our country is filled with devastation from the evil of
abortion, our future as Christians is certain. Christ has overcome
“the evil one.” LFLers, let us go forward speaking truth in love,
doing the work God has given us and relying on His promises!
Jesus answered, “We must do what the
one who sent me wants us to do while it is day. The night when no
one can do anything is coming.” John 9:4
GOD’S WORD |
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