“For the first time in my happy twenty-one months as a New Yorker, I am embarrassed to be a member of a cherished community I now — — usually with a lot of pride — — call home.
“That 41% of New York babies are aborted — — a percentage even higher in the Bronx, and among our African-American babies in the womb — — is downright chilling.”
— New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, January 6, 2011
We should all be embarrassed. Yes, the abortion rate in New York City is twice the national average of 19 percent. But whether mothers are killing 19 percent of their babies or 41 percent of their babies, it truly is chilling.
Pro-abortion groups also should be embarrassed (more precisely, ashamed) of their response, that what the city needs is more sex education and easier access to contraception.
We have an abundance of “how to” sex education. And birth control is universally available. The result is a chilling rate of abortion. And if you did into the New York abortion statistics you will discover that the VAST majority of abortions involve women over the age of 20. In other words, these are not clueless teens.
Perhaps it is time to try a radical alternative: moral education, religious formation and instruction in Theology of the Body. Maybe it is time for our political and social leaders to start listening to solid religious leaders like Archbishop Dolan.
Having young people know the difference between right and wrong can’t make the situation any worse. I think it will help.
