Abortion risks increase with men's abuse of women

Candlelight vigil for domestic abuse victims in Natchitoches, Louisiana 2006

In recent days a men's Christian group has apologized for women's abortions. In fact a video with the apology shows the men saying “they” had abortions and apologized for them. Whether or not one thinks it is inappropriate for men in general to take responsibility for abortions may be a question in the minds of some people. But what Christian men, and men in general of all ideological persuasions both secular and religious, might consider as they support an end to abortions is whether or not they verbally or physically abuse their women, for research has determined that those who do so increase the risks that a woman will have an abortion.

In a video entitled “The Apology”, released by Heroic Media, a website encouraged pastors to invite their congregations to join with others in a “grace-filled” video in which men apologize for women'sabortions.

According to some psychologists who have examined this question and who have done research and collected statistics, 36% of men abuse women and 51% of those men who attend church. 

Furthermore, abuse of women is said to be at an “alarming” rate in the United States. It is also a serious problem around the world and impacts groups that claim to be fair in the treatment of women. Saudi Arabia is one of those countries where the abuse involves how a woman moves through the culture in virtually ever aspect, for example. Like Christian leaders offer the advice for men to take charge and cite religious scripture to keep woman as the servant of man, and therefore to do his bidding, the same thing occurs in Islam and in other faiths, even in democratic societies.

And ministers may often add to the problem of abuse, which in turn fuels abortion. Many pastors, it has been reported, focus on reconciliation in spite of a woman's suffering abuse consistently from her male companion. This is referred to as Biblical battered wife syndrome. 

Male authority in evangelical culture is part of the problem in abusive relationships that involve Christian couples. Women are taught to submit to the will of a man, and the man in turn often cites this idea when he turns to his wife for obedience. Some ministers ask women to separate from their spouse while they try to reconcile following an incident of abuse, yet these same ministers will encourage them not to be concerned unless the abuse is a pattern over time.

But how does abuse happen to precipitate an abortion?Research reported in the American Journal of Public Health of this issue involved 1,318 men ranging in age from 18 to 35 years old. Researchers examined the relationships they had with their partners, the violence in these relationships, abortion involvement and disagreements involving the abortion.

What they found is that abusive men are  80 percent more apt to be involved in pregnancies terminated by abortion and 3 times more likely to exert control over the woman's decision to have an abortion.

Furthermore what has also been learned is that most women who request abortions from unplanned pregnancies do not live with their male companions or are in committed relationships. They worry about the financial hardships of having and raising a child. The costs of having a child is approximately $10,000 and the cost of raising one is estimated to be $200,000. So many Christian men who refuse to marry and pride themselves on their freedom, yet have women who become pregnant as a result of sex outside marriage, become complicit, counselors maintain, in the decision.

Interestingly enough the Republicans have their sites set on abortion as an issue, now that they have control over both houses of Congress. The majority are men and consider themselves Christian. Their plan is to overturn Roe vs. Wade, the law that allowed women to have abortions.

As Republican leaders attempted to modify the abortion law, Republican women intervened recently, creating a furor in the House, and a setback to those attempts.  The mission was to require women who wanted abortions after five months to require a police report of rape to allow it.  Nevertheless, it has been the mission of the GOP to undo a law that has been on the books for decades referencing women's right to choose.  But would a change in the law create the reduction of abuse that allows pregnancies to be maintained and healthy babies to be born?  And will abuse continue to be a pattern that drives women to desperate darkened alleys if abortion is disallowed, or indeed to doctors' offices, with their male companions in the driver's seat?

Among all faith groups where men are the head of the household and women encouraged to obey them, will these same men enlightenment, along with Christian men, of the consequences of abusing their women and how that might result in a risk for abortion? 

These are the questions that counselors maintain should be asked if the laws on abortion are changed.

As men seek forgiveness for their part in abortions, and as ministers and other religious leaders encourage this, and preach for an end to abortion, those who manage the shelters and organizations that protect women from abuse say it is essential religious and secular leaders emphasize taking responsibility for how men treat their partners and refrain from physical, emotional and verbal abuse.