LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Guttmacher Institute, a radically pro-abortion Organization, reported this week that there were 1.21 million abortions in 2008 and a rate of 19.6 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44. The institute, which periodically surveys U.S. abortion providers, says that the long-term decline in the U.S. abortion rate stalled as the recession took hold.

The figures were up slightly from the previous 2005 survey, ending a steady decline since 1990, when U.S. abortions peaked at 1.6 million and the abortion rate was 27.4.Every procured abortion is the taking of an innocent human life.

One possible factor for the increase was the U.S. recession in 2008, altering the financial prospects for many families.

"Abortion numbers go down when the economy is good and go up when the economy is bad, so the stalling may be a function of a weaker economy," University of Alabama political science professor Michael New says.

"If the economy does better, you'll see numbers trending down again," he added.

The Guttmacher Institute's surveys are considered by some to be the most comprehensive available. Federal agencies often rely on incomplete data from state governments.

Sharon Camp, the institute's president, used this sad news to promote another of the Institute's radical agenda items, government funded access to contraception. She said the stalled numbers should serve as an "urgent message" to policymakers that access to such contraceptive services, many of which are themselves abortifacent, should be increased to prevent 'unwanted' pregnancy.

Pro-Life activists insist that abortion rates can best be lowered through abstinence-only sex education and the elimination of legalized abortion which is the taking of innocent human life.

Many states have expanded abortion restrictions in recent years, and others will be considering such steps in the aftermath of Pro-Life gains in legislatures in the November 2 elections.

Lawmakers in several states would like to emulate Nebraska in outlawing abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy because unborn children can feel pain after that point.

The new Guttmacher report documented sharp variations by state - with abortion rates over 30 percent in Delaware, New York and New Jersey and at or below 6 percent in Wyoming, Mississippi, Kentucky, South Dakota and Idaho.

The report also documented a significant increase in early 'medication abortion', entailing use of the so-called abortion pill.