An abortion is a failure. We mean this is the broadest sense, without suggesting that women should lose their reproductive rights or dominion over their bodies. Instead we are saying that an abortion is a regrettable and tragic act that (sometimes too casually) snuffs out a potential human life.

Reducing the number of abortions in our country is a great and noble aim. This begins with responsible use of birth control, or abstinence. It can also mean that couples really think about what they will do when confronted with an unplanned pregnancy, and whether the quick way out really represents the kind of human beings they want to be.

With that all said, there is news out that while not “good” can be considered encouraging:?Minnesota health officials say the number of elective abortions in the state hit a record low in 2015. There were fewer than 10,000 abortions, the lowest number in 35 years of reporting, and nearly half the 19,000 abortions reported in 1980.

We believe there are a lot of good people out there doing the hard and challenging work of educating and informing young people and others about the alternatives to abortion, and about how to live responsibly. We also credit people in general for being informed and making good decisions. We hope the numbers represent a trend leading ever downward.