Contact:  Jerry Horn, Priests for Life, 540-220-0095

ATLANTA, Nov. 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- Dr. Alveda King, Pastoral Associate of Priests for Life and niece of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said today that African American hopelessness documented in a new Pew Research poll is linked in part to the high abortion rate in the black community.  The Pew poll, released Tuesday, found that less than half of African Americans believe life will get better for them.

"Children are the future.  When you destroy your children, you destroy hope," said Dr. King.  "The incredibly high number of abortions performed on black women in this country has to take a toll not just on the women involved, but also on their families, friends, and communities.  If African Americans feel that life will not get better, I have to believe that abortion is feeding into that hopelessness."

"I know from personal experience that abortion causes depression, regret, and despair," added Dr. King.  "I also know from personal experience that this despair can be healed and the wounded can be brought back to joy and hope through faith.  What I want the government to do is guarantee our basic rights and the most basic right is the right to life.  If we love and welcome our children, optimism for the future can only increase."

Priests for Life is the nation's largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.