Today I received the March newsletter for CompassCare, a Christian-based organization that serves women facing unexpected pregnancies. Not too long ago I had lunch with Jim Harden, the President/CEO of CompassCare and was greatly encouraged by all that is taking place through this ministry. For instance, 10% of all the at-risk women in Rochester called CompassCare's Helpline over the last month! This is unprecedented in the history of CompassCare! How encouraging! Yet the CompassCare team continue to set their sights higher, striving to reach and serve 20% of all women in the Rochester region facing an unplanned pregnancy in 2012.
In this newsletter, Rev. Harden makes reference to the recent public commotion over the Obama Administration's Health Reform rules and whether they violate our religious liberty. But in addition to this there are financial considerations. Says Harden, "A big question for any medical procedure these days is, 'How much does it cost?'" Supposedly an abortion costs around $600. But it's really not that simple, according to Harden, who writes,
Several years ago CompassCare led a research initiative called "Abortion Cost/Benefit Analysis" and found that the long term increased health care costs to the community for one woman to have an abortion is $94,000.
That's a staggering figure, to be sure. Is it credible? Yes it is, according to Harden, who proceeds to share several facts from articles published in peer-reviewed medical journals. Here are just a few noteworthy statistics:
- Breast cancer incidences have increased 40% since 1973, the year pre-born children were deemed nonhuman and abortion became acceptable. 52 of 68 epidemiological studies show abortion as an independent risk factor for breast cancer.
- The risk of future pre-term deliveries and complications of 'wanted' pregnancies increase by 300-500% after an abortion. Abortion causes a condition called 'incompetent cervix' whereby damage is done by forcing the cervix open, weakening its ability to retain future pregnancies to full term.
- According to a 2011 study report by the British Journal of Psychiatry, an 81% increased risk of mental health problems occurs in the population of women who have abortions.
Of course, Christians know that money itself isn't the most important issue. A bigger question than "How much does it cost?" is "What does the Scripture say?" God is not silent on this issue. Human life is sacred, it begins at conception, and it must be protected at all costs.