Every January since 1973, pro-life citizens set aside time to mourn, reflect and pray about the tragic Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision (January 22, 1973), which–with its companion case, Doe v. Bolton–imposed abortion-on-demand on every state in the nation. Sanctity of Human Life Week will be observed this year January 15-22.

As we approach the 33rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we thought it would be appropriate to review the high costs of legalized abortion. The following are the facts surrounding a “Women’s Right to Abortion.” 

Can you think of any other American “right” that requires the murder of another innocent life?

• Since Roe, there have been between 43 and 46 million American babies killed through abortion.
• Up to 4,000 children are killed by abortion in America every single day. 
• About 14 percent of all abortions in the United States are paid for with public funds. Illinois allows public funds to pay for abortions for some poor women. 
• 52 percent of women obtaining abortions in the U.S. are younger than 25.
• 55 percent of minors who have abortions do not tell their parents. 
• Abortion is legal up to the day of birth in all 50 states.
• 40 percent of all abortions are performed on African-American women, despite the fact that they make up just seven percent of the entire population.
• Twice as many African-Americans have died from abortion than have died from AIDS, accidents, violent crimes, cancer, and heart disease combined. (Read more HERE.)
• Recent reports suggest that Illinois has seen several years of decline in the number of abortions. 2004 marked the latest in several years of decline and was the lowest abortion rate since 1973, when abortion was legalized.
• According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, only 41,577 babies were killed in the name of “choice” during 2004.
• There have been more than 1.5 million children aborted in Illinois since 1973, according to the numbers provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
• Post Abortion Syndrome is real and it affects millions of women with devastating results (Read more HERE).
• 25 studies show a link between induced abortion and breast cancer, suggesting that abortion increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer by more than 400 percent. Learn more at the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer website. 

  Why do women have abortions?

  74 percent say having a baby would interfere with work, school, or other responsibilities.

  73 percent say they cannot afford to have another child.

  48 percent say they do not want to be a single parent, or have relationship problems with husband or partner.

  Less than 2 percent say they became pregnant as a result of rape or incest.

  (Source: Alan Guttmacher Institute, Perspective on Sexual & Reproductive Health, Sept. 2005)

  The Illinois Family Institute thanks you for your prayers and support of the sanctity of human life–and the sanctity of marriage and the family.

  Focus on the Family, with which IFI is associated, also has some excellent resources available online for Sanctity of Human Life Week at:http://www.heartlink.org/beavoice/index.cfm

  Another excellent resource repudiating a legal defense of Roe v. Wade is Susan Willis’ paper, “Ten Legal Reasons to Reject Roe,” published on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.