WASHINGTON (March 1, 2006) - Deirdre A. McQuade, spokesperson for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, criticized a report on unintended pregnancy issued by the Guttmacher Institute yesterday.

"Without any evidence, the report just asserts that increased access to contraception reduces the number of unintended pregnancies and therefore abortions. But that assumption is unwarranted."

For example, "California and New York, ranked among the top states for access to contraception, also have the highest abortion rates in the country. The facts simply don't support what Planned Parenthood and its research affiliate would like us to believe," Ms. McQuade said.

"Many studies actually show that abortions decrease when states enact modest regulations on abortion — regulations opposed by Planned Parenthood, such as public funding bans, informed consent requirements and parental involvement laws.

"At the same time, where contraceptives are widely available, abortion is a common backup to failed birth control," Ms. McQuade continued, "Even Guttmacher admits that 54% of abortions nationwide in 2000 'occur among...women who were using contraceptives in the month they became pregnant'. Clearly, pouring more money into contraception will not solve the problem."

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