Correlation does not automatically indicate causation, and the fact that countries where abortion is legal tend to have lower abortion rates than countries where abortion is legal does not necessarily mean that the lower abortion rate was caused by the legalization of abortion. My own guess is that a close look at the countries involved would reveal that societies with a liberal attitude toward abortion are also likely to make contraception widely available and to stress sex education, and that the lower abortion rates are more closely related to these phenomena. It is pretty hard to argue against the idea that the combination of education and universal availability of contraceptives is an effective way to reduce abortion rates.
People who argue that religion has no power to ban should come to the Philippines. Both abortion and divorce are illegal here, mainly due to the political influence of the Catholic church. Of course that doesn't stop marriages from breaking up, and it doesn't stop abortions. Outside the biggest church in Manila, the same vendors that sell amulets, prayer books, and statues of the virgin also sell packets of herbal abortifacients, described as "medicine to bring back menstruation". The medicines are not very safe, but the church doesn't give a damn; everyone knows what's going on, but nobody moves to stop it. Where there is demand there will be supply, and the medieval attitudes toward sex education, contraception, and pregnancy out of wedlock - all of which are heavily influenced by the Catholic church - ensure that the demand will always be high. |
