'30 Years After Roe v. Wade, Abortion is a Choice
                        'No Society Should Tolerate.''

    NEW HAVEN, Conn., Jan. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement was
issued by Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, regarding the 30th
year of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade abortion decision:

    "This year, on Jan. 22, we note with great sadness, but greater
determination, the 30th year of legalized abortion on demand in the United
States.
    "For 30 years, abortion has been a stain on our nation; a deep wound in
our nation's soul.  Abortion is the negation of our nation's commitment to
human rights and the equal dignity of every individual.  It is a tragedy that
sets women against their own children.  This is a choice no woman should ever
have to make.  This is a choice no society should tolerate.
    "Our society can, and must, do better to address the needs of women,
rather than leaving them and their children to the violence of abortion.
Young people, especially, understand this.  Abortion holds less and less
appeal for the generation raised under Roe v. Wade. More and more young people
identify themselves as pro-life and they are renewing the ranks of the pro-
life movement.  The abortion rate is at its lowest since the decision was
first handed down, due to the decline in abortion among younger women.  Young
people who grew up under Roe v. Wade have seen the damage wrought by abortion
and they demand better.
    "As we note this 30th year of abortion on demand, we are confident of the
day when we will instead celebrate its end, when the law will no longer
protect the violence of abortion, but will instead protect the lives and
dignity of both women and their unborn children."

    With more than 1.6 million members throughout North America and elsewhere,
the Knights is the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service
organization.  In 2001 members reported raising and contributing to charity a
record $125 million and volunteering a record 58.9 million hours of service.
Included in that figure is approximately $3.8 million raised and distributed
to pro-life groups.

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