Some good news recently came from an unexpected source. A new report released by the pro-abortion organization Abortion Care Network (ACN) found that “the number of independent abortion clinics has been reduced by nearly 28 percent since 2012.” As of November 2018, there are 370 independent abortion clinics in the country, down from 510 just six years ago. This is significant since independent abortion clinics are responsible for performing almost 60% of all abortions across the nation.

While ACN predictably laments the decreasing number of independent abortion clinics and seeks to blame pro-life “harassment” and “abortion stigma,” it is also clear that the number of abortions performed each year has been declining and clinics depend on such “business.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that, in 2015, the number of abortions performed was 638,169, a decrease of 2% from the previous year and a drop of 26% from 2006. It’s also the fewest in a year since Roe v. Wade.

The CDC notes that “unintended pregnancy” is the biggest contributing factor for abortions and suggests that access to effective contraception partly explains the decreasing number. While that may be true, Chuck Donovan, president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, argues that “a higher percentage of women today decide to carry an unexpected pregnancy to term, teenagers are less sexually active and with fewer partners, [and] pro-life views are more prevalent among the rising generation than they were 40 years ago.” We’d also note that ultrasound technology now makes clearer than ever that a human life grows in the womb. In any case, we’re witnessing a significant cultural change.

There is still a long way to go toward ending the barbaric and evil practice of killing unborn children, but it’s good to see that progress is being made despite the mainstream media culture’s constant promotion of abortion.