WASHINGTON, -- "Abortion rights activists, like Betty Friedan, promised the country that abortion would make women whole, but four out of five people say abortion has emotionally torn women to pieces," Family Research Council Policy Analyst Gracie S. Hsu said Tuesday. "The damage is not limited to emotional consequences; a majority of Americans believe that abortion-on-demand has hurt relationships between men and women, driving the two apart. In addition, 70 percent of them say legalized abortion is not necessary to help women pursue educational and career goals. Americans are saying that the promises of pro-abortionists were lies, and that now Americans need serious healing."
Miss Hsu spoke Tuesday at a news conference held at the Family Research Council to unveil polling data on the social and emotional impact of abortion. A survey of 1,000 adults, conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide, found the following:
-- Most adults (53%) believe that abortion has hindered the relationships between men and women. 58 percent of women and 48 percent of men agree.
-- Most Americans (78%) strongly agree that women who have had abortions experience emotional trauma, such as grief and regret.
-- Most Americans (70%) believe that legal abortion is not necessary for women to pursue various educational and career goals.
Hsu said that the poll's results "challenge pro-abortionists' claims that abortion helps women. The untold story of abortion is the tragic social and emotional damage it causes women."
Post-abortion grief is not limited to women. Bob Kirk, from Boulder, CO, told his story Tuesday about the emotional trauma and drug addiction that followed his experience with abortion. Olivia Gans, Director of American Victims of Abortion, also spoke about her post-abortion experience, which included anxiety attacks, depression, and serious dysfunctional behavior. Both have undergone counseling and been involved as post-abortion counselors. Vicki Thorn, founder of Project Rachel, a post-abortion counseling network within the Catholic Church, described the model she created for post-abortion healing. Thorn also directs the National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation & Healing (1-800-5WE-CARE), a national referral network for men and women seeking healing.