Religious leaders say seek to reduce NYC's abortion rate

New York, USA - Archbishop Timothy Dolan is calling for efforts to make abortions in New York City "rare."

Dolan gathered with other Protestant and Jewish leaders to draw attention to the city's high abortion rate. The city health department last month released statistics that showed 41 percent of pregnancies were terminated in 2009, although the numbers have declined in the last decade.

Dolan said the practice is unlikely to end but that it was important "to tell people what is happening."

The religious leaders also criticized public schools sex education programs that include condom distribution.