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4. "Restricting access to abortion will return us to the era when thousands of women died every year from illegal abortions." Bernard Nathanson, former leader of pro-abortion forces, concedes, "I knew the figures were totally false, and I suppose that others did too. But in the 'morality' of our revolution, it was a useful figure, widely accepted, so why go out of our way to correct it with honest statistics?" The honest statistics were presented on the floor of the U.S. Senate in 1981, and were never challenged by pro-abortion groups: after penicillin became available in the 1940s, deaths from illegal abortions stabilized at about 250 per year. Then the numbers started dropping even more quickly after 1960 until, in 1972, the year before Roe v. Wade, there were only 39 deaths in the U.S. from illegal abortions.

Of course we should grieve every human life lost—not only the 20 to 40 women who still die every year from legal and illegal abortions, but also the thousands of little lives lost through the barbarities of PBA. If animals were treated this way, PETA would call for a ban on the procedure.

But if the Gallup polls are accurate, the vast majority of Americans will agree that the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act is a reasonable response to what has become a national scandal. With its passage, more Giannas may survive.

Gerald R. McDermott is Professor of Religion at Roanoke College and an Episcopal priest.

Copyright © 2003 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also appearing on our site today:

Saved by Sonogram | Ultrasounds help crisis pregnancy centers reduce abortion.

New Life for Prolife | Abortion is no longer the ghastly growth industry it was in the 1970s and 1980s.

More Christianity Today abortion stories can be found at our life ethics archive. Previous articles about abortion in the U.S. include:

Prolife as Mafia? | Supreme Court to decide if racketeering laws apply to anti-abortion activities. (Jan. 15, 2003)

Saving Black Babies | Abortion has cost 13 million African American lives. (Jan. 19, 2003)

FDA Candidate Irks Abortion Pill Advocates | The Christian Medical Association says critics fear David Hager's "well-grounded" opposition. (Nov. 26, 2002)

Embracing the Unwanted | Chinese American Christians are starting to become more openly prolife. (May 9, 2002)

Doctors Slow to Prescribe Abortion Pill | Since RU-486's approval, rising safety concerns and common side effects have led to little use. (Nov. 12, 2001)

Whistleblower Fired | Nurse Jill Stanek's lawyer calls action retaliation for prolife views. (Oct. 26, 2001)

Bush's Prolife Strategy Questioned | White House chief of staff says abortion isn't on list of public policy priorities. (June 15, 2001)

Counteroffensive Launched on RU-486 | Abortion-pill critics allege safety concerns overlooked in FDA approval process." (June 15, 2001)

Virginia Okays Waiting Period For Abortion | NARAL says 43 prolife measures were passed at the state level last year. (April 2, 2001)

Bitter Pills | What does RU-486 change about abortion? (December 11, 2000)

House Passes Bill to Protect Babies Outside the Womb | Protection for infants who survive abortions draws 380-15 approval. (Sept. 28, 2000)

Partial Birth: What Next? | Louisiana's special assistant attorney general questions well-intentioned lawmakers. (August 7, 2000)

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February (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47