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It's a well-known alternative to abortion, but much less often used. Every
year approximately 1.3 million single women become unexpectedly pregnant. Sadly,
less than two percent choose the loving option of adoption, while two million
couples eagerly wait to adopt children.
 In
part, that's why November is National Adoption Month. It is our opportunity
to spotlight adoption as a positive alternative to abortion. It's a time to stress
the many blessings of adoption for both the biological mother and adoptive family.
Why such a huge discrepancy between the number of babies placed for adoption
and families hoping to adopt? There are several reasons. Primarily, it's
because the abortion industry makes no money when a woman chooses not to have
an abortion. Planned Parenthood's latest annual report shows that they aborted
79 babies for every adoption referral it made to an outside agency. Their adoption
referrals have declined by a huge seventy-three percent since 1997. At the same
time, the number of abortions they perform has increased over nineteen percent. For
the past three decades, Planned Parenthood and the rest of the abortion industry
have waged a quiet but successful war against adoption. Polling shows that many
women actually feel it is more compassionate to have an abortion than to place
their baby for adoption. The bleak statistics on adoption are a tragic testimony
to Planned Parenthood's efforts. The media have also played an active role
in the way Americans look at adoption. Beth M. Waggenspack is an associate professor
in the Department of Communication Studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University. She has written extensively on adoption and the media. Her research
shows that media representations of adoption are negative by a ratio of five to
one. She said they focus on the differences that adoption creates instead of the
many positives.  Another
reason for adoption's lackluster image is that many in the pro-life movement have
been affected by the abortion industry's negative propaganda about adoption. They
may not be promoting it as an attractive and viable alternative to single parenting.
When counseling women in crisis, many well-intentioned volunteers in women help
centers may fail to fully explore adoption or even mention it as an option. Part
of the reason is a lack of information and comfort in presenting this option.
Use the following resources to help counter the trend away from adoption.
Resources:
- Life Issues Institute is proud to offer a free
ad slick that emphasizes the blessings of adoption
(click
here to view it and other free ad slicks we have available). A pdf version
of the ad can be downloaded directly by
clicking
here, or we can email you a copy if necessary. Simply email us at info@lifeissues.org,
mention that you saw this offer on our website, and we will be happy to send you
a copy.
- Eileen Tucker Cosby and her husband, David, have
adopted two children. Eileen is the
 author
of a great book called "A" is for ADOPTED. It is a wonderful, gentle
way to introduce the concept of adoption to children. Click
here
here for more information.
- To view a list of recommended adoption agencies, and other information about
adoption, please visit the National Council for Adoption website:
www.adoptioncouncil.org
-
"Chosen Children - Celebrating National Adoption
Month", with special guest Steven Curtis Chapman, is hosted by Brad
Mattes. Please click
here for a non-broadcast-quality sample. [Note: this file is large and
may require several minutes to download.]
- There
is help for those trying to adopt children. Learn how Steven Curtis Chapman and
 his wife,
Mary Beth, are working with others to make adoption a blessing to more families:
www.showhope.org
Famous people who have been involved
in the process of adoption: |
