It's difficult to imagine a better story to write about than news that there has been a reduction in the number of abortions. Late last week, the opening paragraph in a Detroit News story read as follows: "State health officials said Thursday 24,683 abortions were performed in Michigan last year -- the lowest number since record-keeping began in 1979 and a 50 percent drop from the peak year of 1987." The figure represents a 3.7% decline from 2006.

"We are extremely grateful for the large decrease in abortions in Michigan," said Barbara Listing, president of Right to Life of Michigan. "The fact that fewer women are having abortions in Michigan demonstrates more and more women are coming to the realizations that abortion is not the answer to an unplanned pregnancy."

Listing added, "We will continue to reach out to women in need so that they know abortion is not their only option. There are far too many women who enter an abortion clinic thinking this is the only choice. Thinking abortion is your only choice is equivalent to having no choice at all."

Right to Life of Michigan also expressed its gratitude to Michigan's prolife legislators who have worked with dedication to pass many prolife laws.

Other numbers from the Department of Community Health fleshed out the good news. In 1987 there were 350 abortions for every 1,000 live births. Last year there were 200 abortions for every 1,000 live births, a dramatic reduction by any standard.

The report from Michigan is part of a wave of good news. As we reported in the February edition of National Right to Life News, abortions dropped a stunning 8% between 2000 and 2005, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Although tragically high, the 1.2 million abortions performed in 2005 is down 25% since it peaked in 1990.

For an in-depth look at the report, go to www.nrlc.org/news/2008/NRL02/LowestLevel.html

Please send your comments to daveandrusko@hotmail.com.

Part One: "Obama's Abortion Vulnerability" & Pro-Aborts "Unmask McCain"
Part Three: Your Life-Affirming Impact Can Transcend Three Degrees of Separation