Choose Life of Georgia, Inc.
License to Live Winter 2013
Volume 6, Number 1
The goal of Choose Life of Georgia is to channel resources into frontline life-affirming agencies to
increase the two percent of abortion vulnerable women choosing adoption for their children.
New study finds shame leads to abortion,
discovers winning strategy to save babies
By Johanna Dasteel with LifeSite News.com, Inc. (printed with permission)
A new study commissioned by the Vitae Foundation has taken a careful
scientific approach to identify what drives women’s decisions to keep their
child, place a child in adoption or abort one’s child. The study has determined
what influences that decision, which women are most reachable, what message
is most likely to reach them and from whom vulnerable women would like to
hear that message.
Instead of focusing on swaying public opinion, this study focuses on reaching abortion-vulnerable women with
a message that will support their instincts to protect their children rather than forfeit their lives to abortionists.
The study itself is replete with empathy-arousing, first-person descriptions of the anxieties, emotions and logic
– sometimes legitimate, often irrational – of women faced with surprise pregnancies. And that empathy, the
study finds, is necessary to reach women and help them through a troubled pregnancy.
First, the study distinguishes the abortion-minded woman – whose conflicts, the study describes, “focus more
on self-identity issues than on right and wrong” – from the abortion vulnerable woman, who feels more guilt
and is more concerned with “right and wrong” than the abortion-minded woman. Among the abortionvulnerable are women who are aware of the humanity of their child in utero. The study concluded that “women
who believe that abortion is murder and yet choose to abort will suffer guilt and regret for the rest of their
lives.” This bolsters the study’s claim of the importance for post-abortion ministries such as Rachel’s Vineyard
and Project Rachel.
When it comes to preventing abortions, the study recommends that pro-life efforts focus on abortion-vulnerable
above abortion-minded women with a “strong need to preserve their character” and believe they are “good
people who do the right thing.” This is where the study’s “Psychological Kernel” comes into play. The study’s
authors, Charles T. Kenny, Ph.D. and Paul Swope, conclude: “Women carry an unwanted pregnancy to term
when guilt wins out over shame, when they feel that the pregnancy will not end their own current and future
selves, and that the unborn will be better off alive than dead.” Thus, they deduce that pro-life messaging and
marketing must focus on overcoming the shame women feel of an “unplanned pregnancy” with the lifelong
consequences they will feel after aborting their own children.
Part of their finding is identifying the best messenger, which the researchers identified as “The Admired
Woman.” She is “non-judgmental, caring, compassionate, a good listener, encouraging, has overcome obstacles
in her life, is approachable and manages her life effectively.” “Some also say that the admired woman does not
give unwanted advice,” the authors gently add.
The Vitae Foundation has already implemented their findings into their marketing and training efforts.
A recent TV ad the organization developed showcases the findings of their study:
{African-American woman standing alone, in great distress} (Voiceover) “That was me when I found out I was
pregnant. I really lost it. My boyfriend wanted me to have an abortion. My parents, they sent me mixed signals.
Everybody knew what I should do, except for me. Then I talked to some people I didn’t even know. They were
kind, caring and compassionate. They helped me make a choice I can live with {shows young child playing in
front of her}. And maybe they can help you too. Call them today.”
Reaching the right people with a convincing pro-life message is of prime importance to pro-life advocates.
Much of the movement’s time and money is spent developing talking points and material with which to lobby
Congress, social media campaigns to bypass the pro-abortion stalemate in the mainstream media, and literature
to put in the hands of college students. The impressive messaging and marketing efforts have gone a long way
to confront the average citizen with the reality of abortion, despite his ignorance and apathy.
The results of the study, the Vitae Foundation promises, will not only be of use for ad campaigns, but for
pregnancy care center counselors, public speakers, educators, pro-life literature, health care professionals,
fundraising and marketing, and for the average man or woman acting as a confidant to an abortion-vulnerable
friend or family member.
Quarterly Distribution of Funds
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Tags sold October – December 2012 -­‐ 1094 Funds received at $10 per tag -­‐ $10,940 Agencies that received funds this quarter -­‐ 40 Largest check -­‐ $835.07 Average check -­‐ $182.33 We Want to Send You $$$
It’s not too late to qualify for funds. Upon request we’ll send you the application forms. After meeting
requirements, agencies will be eligible for funds in the following quarterly distribution. Funds are distributed
each quarter. Of the 80 pregnancy centers and maternity homes, only 42 are currently qualified to receive funds.
Consequently, the funds from tag sales in those counties with no qualifying agencies are being distributed to
qualified agencies in surrounding counties.
News Briefs
Choose Life America, Inc. – 11 Years and Still Going Strong - The Choose Life specialty license plate has
been approved in 29 states and has raised over $17.5 million for the cause of life and adoption in those states.
Please go to www.ChooseLifeAmerica.org and see what is happening in the country.
2013 March for Life - In January approximately 650,000 people gathered to march in the streets of
Washington, D.C. to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Roe V. Wade. Since then over 55 million babies
have been aborted in the United States.
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Choose Life of Georgia, Inc. - www.chooselifega.org
Caryl Swift, President, [email protected]
Cindie Riesterer, Administrator, [email protected]
783 Holcomb Bridge Road, Norcross, GA 30071
Phone: 678-831-0230 FAX: 770-339-1711