Information recently published by the Virginia Center for Health Statistics shows that in the year 2000, unborn babies accounted for about 45 percent of the total deaths occurring within the geographical boundaries of the Diocese of Arlington.

In at least seven abortion facilities located in Northern Virginia, 20,724 babies lost their lives. This means that 38 percent of the total abortions performed in Virginia occur within the Arlington Diocese.

The statistics are staggering for four cities in particular: Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, and Manassas. In these cities, where abortion facilities operate, the percentage of deaths due to abortion far surpasses the diocesan average (see table).

Manassas ranks fourth, with 81 percent of the deaths in its boundaries due to abortion. With only one abortion facility, in the year 2000 aborted babies numbered 1,793 of the 2,213 total deaths.

In the same year, abortionists from at least three facilities in Alexandria performed about 4,650 abortions. These babies comprised 83 percent of the total deaths in the city.

Fairfax City's statistics come in second: 88 percent of deaths in the city are preborn children. In the City of Falls Church, where at least two facilities perform abortions, the percentage of deaths by abortion is the highest in the diocese. In the year 2000, 30 persons died of natural causes, but 2,451 persons died from abortion; thus, preborn babies represented almost 99 percent of the deaths in the Falls Church area.

Serrin Foster, president of Feminists for Life of America says, " Forty million abortions are a reflection that we have failed women -- and women have settled for less."

The risks and repercussions of abortion remain great: evidence increasingly shows the links between abortion and cancer, depression, suicide, and child abuse, to name a few. In America, the highest standards for abortion clinics do not meet even the lowest for veterinary clinics. Yet 21,000 women still chose to abort in Northern Virginia in the year 2000.

"It is time for us to systematically eliminate the coercive factors that drive women to abortion -- primarily lack of practical resources and emotional support," Foster says. "Every woman deserves better. We don't have to settle for less."

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde points out that, "We are in the midst of a spiritual combat. The evil one does not wish us to draw others away from him. It is imperative that we remain fixed on the Divine Master. It is imperative that we become a reservoir of grace allowing ourselves the time and the patience to pray for the wisdom, the knowledge and the courage to proclaim the Gospel of Life, whatever our state in life, whatever our role in the Church."

The bishop further emphasizes that positive language influences people more than negative slogans. If we want to reduce the number of abortions performed within our diocesan boundaries, and the number of women who will suffer, then we need to follow the example of Pope John Paul II in promoting a culture of life, using a language of understanding, compassion and hope.

This is crucial, according to Gerri Laird, director of Project Rachel. "Considering that 48 percent of women in a crisis pregnancy are already post abortive, we must first love the mother because of her own inherent dignity. If we succeed in acknowledging her personhood and self-worth by showing that she is loved for herself, not simply for the baby in her womb, then her survival instincts can reach beyond herself and include her child as well."

Kristina Christensen is a student at the College of William and Mary and presently a summer intern at the Office for Family Life.