Archbishop of Sydney

Abortion And Depression

By + Cardinal George Pell
Archbishop of Sydney
8/1/2006

Nobody likes being confronted with uncomfortable facts.  Our instinct is avoid these truths.  Sometimes we go further than this and build elaborate defences against them.

For too long the effects of abortion on the mothers and fathers involved have been shrouded in silence.  We are used to outbursts of bitter division over abortion itself, but until recently the whole ugly topic was short on informed discussion.

The results of a twenty-five year long survey from the Christchurch region in New Zealand, just published, showed that young women who have an abortion are more likely to suffer from mental disorders, such as major depression, anxiety attacks, illicit drug dependence and flirting with suicide, than women who become pregnant and have their babies and women who do not become pregnant.  These two groups respectively suffer mental disorders at only 67% and 58% of the rate of those who underwent abortion.

This research runs counter to the views energetically expressed by the pro-choice lobby that abortion alleviates psychological distress, and counter to the 2005 statement of the American Psychological Association that the risk of psychological harm from abortion is low.  But the Christchurch team makes no extravagant claims, listing the unique strengths and limitations of its work and calling for further well controlled studies.

Last year a reputable survey showed that while almost two thirds of Australians support abortion on demand, 87% want the abortion rate cut.  80,000 or 90,000 young Australians aborted annually are too many.

The New Zealand evidence comes as no surprise to Catholic priests and I suspect, many doctors and counsellors.  Long term remorse over abortion is often more intractable than any other guilt, harder to diminish or eradicate, even for those who believe in God’s forgiveness.  The suffering can be profound.  Some women claim not to be affected.

Christian women who have suffered this torment have now come together to help all those in this situation in Project Rachel, (info@projectrachel.org.au)  They aim to heal lives touched by abortion and a lot of good work is being done.

One interesting detail is that Professor David Fergusson, the leader of the Christchurch team, is an atheist, a rationalist, pro-choice and supporting unrestricted access to abortion.  At a popular level this has helped with those who are hostile to pro-lifers and dubious of scientific arguments made by Christians.  Young Christians at universities, even today, have told me that in tutorial discussions their arguments are often well received, until they concede that they come from Christian authors!

Fergusson also found it difficult to obtain a publisher for his research, was warned that he would provoke controversy and animosity.  A strong party line, hostility to opposing views, is not only the prerogative of Communists and Catholics!

I was tempted to conclude by saying “thank God for honest atheists”, but we should thank God for all honest and courageous people telling unpopular truths.