Is it just a coincidence that abortion rates have been on the decline during the same period of time that there has been increasing public awareness of post-abortion trauma? Or are the millions of women who have had abortions, and years later suffered from the delayed guilt and regret that is typical of post-abortion syndrome, now quietly discouraging their sisters, daughters, and co-workers from taking the "easy way out?"
Whether or not increased awareness of post-abortion problems is the primary explanation for the decline in abortion rates, it is an important explanation that will resonate with Americans. If pro-lifers understand this explanation, and the psychological reasons why the average American wants to believe this is true, we can accelerate the trend away from abortion.
Throughout the 1990s, abortion rates have been on a steady decline. The total numbers, rate, and ratio of abortions to births have all been on a downward trend. In fact, if one were to look at only those women getting their first abortion, the drop is even more dramatic.
Reporters, government officials, abortion advocates, and abortion foes are all trying to explain the trend. Depending on one's partisan position, various explanations are that the abortion rate is declining because of inadequate access to abortion facilities, a shortage of abortionists, better use of contraception, the success of pro-life educational efforts, chastity programs, or the passage of women's right to know laws, et cetera
It is likely that there are a large number of factors involved in the decline. But for the purpose of this analysis, it is not important to discover the real cause. What is important is the effect the decline is having on people's attitudes.
For example, on January 16, 1998, in its coverage of the Roe v. Wade anniversary, ABC News examined the decline of abortion rates and reported that 60 percent of doctors who do abortions are 65 or older. Without an infusion of new providers, still fewer abortions might be done in the future. Then, immediately after this segment, ABC anchor Peter Jennings aired a report on the efforts of the Catholic Church doing post-abortion healing with Project Rachel.
What is amazing is that it was a sympathetic report. Women who were being helped by the support groups were interviewed. There was no indication that Project Rachel was anything other than a good program that reasonable people would support for those who needed it.
Such positive reporting of pro-life views, especially on a major network, has been extremely rare. But I would argue that it was not a coincidence that the segment followed a report of a dramatic drop in the number of abortion doctors. A psychological principle, working in an unseen way, even on the ABC News staff, had laid the groundwork for a positive perspective on post-abortion outreach programs.
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http://www.afterabortion.org/PAR/V9/n3/cognitivediss.html