"It is very clear that the Alan Guttmacher Institute is an organization that doesn't like children and wants to eliminate as many as possible," said Jim Sedlak, president of STOPP International (an American Life League division).
Guttmacher just released a teenage pregnancy study, "Can More Progress Be Made? Teenage Sexual and Reproductive Health in Developed Countries." The report compares the teen pregnancy rate in the United States with those in Canada, Great Britain, France and Sweden, and suggests ways in which the United States can emulate those countries.
"When a study like this is released, it is often necessary to ignore the author's hype and look at the real reason the study was conducted," said Sedlak, noting that the Alan Guttmacher Institute is a special research affiliate of Planned Parenthood.
"Planned Parenthood has had much success in selling its anti-child message to the four countries Guttmacher chose for this study," he said. "These countries are dying because they have become anti-child. In order for a country to replace its population, it must have an average of 22 births for every 10 women -- just over two children per family. The U.S. currently has 21 births for every 10 women. But France has only 19, Great Britain has 17, Sweden has 15 and Canada has just 14 births for every 10 women -- well below the replacement rate."
Sedlak said if the United States were to adhere to the recommendations, "we would soon become a nation without children. This would please Guttmacher and Planned Parenthood, but would clearly not be the right thing to do."
Release issued: 6 Dec 01
