by Matthew McCusker
Shocking figures revealed last month showed that of women aged between 18 and 29 who had abortions in England and Wales during 2012; 38,893 had already had at least one abortion. 9,256 of these women had had at least two previous abortions 591 at least five previous abortions. 17 of the women had had 7 previous abortions.
The figures were revealed to the House of Commons by Health Minister Jane Ellison on 26th March 2014 after David Amess, the pro-life MP for Southend West, tabled a question requesting the information.
Mr Paul Tully, the general secretary of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, made the following statement to the media:
"These distressing figures are significant but not for the reason people often think. The pro-abortion lobby will suggest that more stringent birth control regimes are needed to stop women becoming pregnant and incurring expensive NHS abortion costs.
Many pro-life people assume that the figures suggest abortion is being used as a method of birth control. Some women may have this view, but importantly, this view is in practice encouraged by the Department of Health – which sees abortion as 'back-stop contraception.'
As a result of these figures, ministers are likely to agree to more intensive programmes to promote contraception, both to women who have abortions, and to young people generally.
The result of this is well-recognised – it doesn't reduce abortion, but promotes attitudes and sexual behaviour which increase the likelihood of children being conceived in unstable situations. And whether wanted or not, many will be aborted.
To break this vicious cycle, doctors should refuse to sanction abortion for so-called 'unwanted” pregnancies' – which is not a lawful basis for abortion. Also, ministers should demand that the Department of Health stops promoting birth-control policies which lead to sexual abuses, the undermining of marriage and the killing of unborn babies."
