Why Pro-Life?

With its everyday hustle and bustle, New York City is one of the most populated cities in the United States.

New York City also has the highest rates of abortion compared to the rest of the United States.

Nearly forty percent of all pregnancies in the city end in abortion. This is about twice the national average [1].

The statistic is even higher for African Americans–nearly sixty percent of black pregnancies end in abortion. [2]

In many ways, New York City acts as a model and representation to the rest of the society about how America sees new life.

Despite the fact that New York City is full of some of the most wealthy people in the world, they have the highest levels of abortion.

Although some abortions result from health problems or other reasons, the vast majority, at least over 95%, occur because they are simply inconvenient [3].

At the very least, we are sending the message to the world that we are self-centered and are primarily just concerned with our own well-being.

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References

[1] Vitello, Paul. (2011). “Religious Leaders Call for New Efforts to Lower the City’s ‘Chilling’ Abortion Rate.”

[2] Ibid.

[3] Finer, Lawrence B., Frohwirth, Lori F., Dauphinee, Lindsay A., Singh, Susheela, and Moore,
Anne. (2005). “Reasons U.S. Women Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative
Perspectives.” Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. 37.3 (2005): 110-118.
Print.

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As of today, about half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned [1]. Nearly a quarter of all pregnancies in the U.S. end in abortion [2].

Over the past nearly forty years, having an abortion has become more and more common. It is not simply a last resort for women who might be caught in a desperate situation. Instead, many women turn to abortion when they find the pregnancy inconvenient. This category includes a large number of teens.

Abortion has become an epidemic that affects the lives of countless women (and men, too). Too many women see abortion as an easy way out of a pregnancy. But it is not easy. Two lives are harmed by an abortion—the life of the child, and the health, wellness, and future fertility of the mother.

At this rate, at least half of American women will have an unintended pregnancy, and one third will have an abortion, by age 45 [3].

Although pro-choice supporters such as Former President Bill Clinton have claimed they want abortions to be safe, legal, and rare, it is clear that abortions are definitely not safe and anything but rare.

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References

[1] Guttmacher Institute. (2011). “Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States .”Guttmacher Institute, May 2011. Web. 12 Jun 2011.

[2] Ibid

[3] Ibid
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Abortion has been an issue of debate for a very long time. Since 1973, abortion has been legal in the U.S. because of the Roe v. Wade supreme court decision.

However, while people go on and on about whether it should be permissible, it has resulted in the death of over 50 million innocent lives [1], and by some estimates the number now exceeds 53 million.

While there is discussion on this issue from time to time, the fact that it has been allowed to become so common is evidence that there are not nearly enough people take a strong, active stand in defense of the unborn.

Many people are aware of the facts regarding abortion and know it to be wrong, yet take no real action to defend the lives of the preborn publicly.

Instead of abortion being rare, these numbers show that it has become incredibly common.

Many lives have been lost, and our society is no better for it.

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References

[1] Jones, Rachel K. and Koolstra, Kathryn. (2010). “Abortion Incidence and Access to Services In the United States, 2008.” http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/4304111.pdf

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As of today, nearly 1 in 4 pregnancies in America end in abortion [1].

Is this evidence of a triumph for women’s rights? A sign that women are now empowered with convenient access to abortion?

A common pro-choice refrain is that abortion is a ‘free choice’ and it should not be interfered with.

While there are some who believe this, the follow-up studies of women who have had abortions reveal a far different situation.

As has been mentioned elsewhere, studies have shown that almost 2/3 of women who undergo abortions report having felt coerced into the decision [2]. Also, approximately 84% report not even being given enough information to make an informed decision [3]. Doesn’t sound like a very free choice…

Along with all of the medical risks that accompany abortion, these statistics actually suggest that the rise of the abortion industry has dealt a serious blow to women gaining true freedom and independence.

However, you can help to change this.

By speaking up when you see a woman being coerced into abortion and better informing women about the risks of abortion and the full range of options available for them, you can help provide these women with the empowerment they deserve.

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References

[1] Guttmacher Institute. (2011). “Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States .”Guttmacher Institute, May 2011. Web. 12 Jun 2011. http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html

[2] Rue, Vincent., Coleman, Priscilla K., Rue, James J., and Reardon, David C. (2004). “Induced Abortion and Traumatic Stress: A Preliminary Comparison of American and Russian Women.” Medical Science Monitor. 10.10 (2004): SR5-16. Print. http://www.artsenverbond.nl/abortion.pdf

[3] Ibid

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Known by many as one of the most peaceful people to have ever lived, Mahatma Gandhi was arguably one of the greatest leaders of all time.

As important as his goals were, he always remained dedicated (above all) to using non-violent means. His peaceful approach is looked upon fondly by pro-lifers everywhere because the pro-life movement is a non-violent movement.

Ghandi once said,

“You must make the injustice visible and be prepared to die like a soldier to do so.”

Gandhi encouraged all to take a stance against grave injustices that others may try to keep hidden. Sound familiar?

Pro-lifers will resonate with that quotation because abortion is so rarely talked about without euphemisms. Abortion is one such injustice that Gandhi felt very strongly about.

In fact, Gandhi is quoted as saying:

“It seems to me as clear as daylight that abortion would be a crime.”

While the abortion industry has put a great deal of effort into portraying pro-life advocates as being violent and hateful, the vast majority of pro-lifers are most interested in showing genuine love and compassion.

Similar to Gandhi, each of us are called to make the injustice of abortion visible in a non-violent way. We must be prepared to put our life on the line for our brothers and sisters in the womb, and tirelessly defend their rights to life – in the most peaceful way possible.

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One of the common phrases used by pro-choice advocates is that abortions should be “safe, legal, and rare.”

At first glance, it appears that this is a great position to have – recognizing that abortion is not desirable, but leaving flexibility in place for exceptions when extreme circumstances arise. Adopting this position can make a person feel so nice and moderate, right?

In this article, let’s take a brief look at how successful we have been in making abortion rare.

It does not take very much research to discover that the true philosophy of abortion providers) is anything but the one above.

Instead of trying to make abortion rare, it is often given a special emphasis because it is one of the industry’s most profitable services.

This last point can be seen in the personal testimonies of former abortion clinic workers, but it can also be seen in the number of abortions. For example, there are now approximately 1.3 million abortions in the United States each year [1]. Also, it is estimated that 43% of all women will have at least 1 abortion before they are 45 years old [2].

What these numbers tell us is that there is a clear disconnect between the arguments used to justify legalized abortion and what continues to happen in the real world.

As has been mentioned, this phrase implies that being pro-choice is not extreme.

Rather, it suggests that legal abortion merely ensures women are able to have access to a safe abortion if they find themselves in very difficult circumstances.

In this article, we’ll take a look at how safe abortions actually are.

First it should be mentioned that a fair number of studies have been conducted regarding the effects of abortion. Because of this, there is much that we can say with certainty.

Some of the most dangerous effects include a much higher risk of breast cancer [3], a higher risk for anxiety disorders [4], and an increased risk for developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [5].

Aside from these, however, there are also harmful consequences that appear much sooner. For example, it is estimated that over 140,000 women a year have immediate, medical complications from abortion [6].

Women facing unplanned pregnancies do indeed need our help. But if abortion is the best pro-choice advocates can come up with, I think we should pass.

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References

[1] Henkshaw, Stanley K. (1998). “Unintended Pregnancy in the United States.” Guttmacher Institute, Jan/Feb 1998. Web. 15 Jun 2011. https://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3002498.html

[2] Guttmacher Institute. (2011). “Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States .”Guttmacher Institute, May 2011. Web. 12 Jun 2011. http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html

[3] Coalition on Abortion Breast Cancer. (2007). “The ABC Link.” Coalition on Abortion Breast Cancer, 30 May 2007. Web. 17 Jun 2011. http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com/The_Link.htm

[4] Cougle, Jesse R., Reardon, David C., Coleman, Priscilla K. (2005). “Generalized Anxiety Following Unintended Pregnancies Resolved Through Childbirth and Abortion: A Cohort Study of the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth,” Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 2005, 19:137-142.

[5] VM Rue et. al. (2004). “Induced abortion and traumatic stress: A preliminary comparison of American and Russian women,” Medical Science Monitor 10(10): SR5-16 (2004)
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15448616

[6] The deVeber Institute for Bioethics and Social Research. (2007). “Research on Post-Abortion Complications.” The deVeber Institute for Bioethics and Social Research, 10 Jul 2007. Web. 15 Jun 2011. www.deveber.org/text/chapters/Chap1.pdf

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The short answer is: You can’t be both pro-life and pro-war.

Those who say they are pro-life often hold various positions on other issues and this leads some people question how a person can be both pro-life and pro-war.

While this question may initially seem fair, it is in fact based on a false premise.

In reality, one would be very hard pressed to really find anyone in favor of war itself. They may exist, but certainly there are very few people who are actually ‘pro-war.’ In fact, many of those who are pro-life are especially loving of peace.

Before going forward, let’s be clear: the pro-life position is incompatible with being pro-war.

However, in some ways, war and abortion are very different things. Abortion should be opposed in all circumstances. On the other hand, people make arguments for supporting war in very limited circumstances. Sill, war should be opposed by those who support human life and dignity in nearly all circumstances.

It must be noted that there are some circumstances, such as following an unprovoked attacked, when it may be justifiable to take military action to preserve the innocent lives of citizens. In other words, a defensive war could be justified by an honest pro-lifer.

While no one hopes that they will ever be in the situation in which they would have to use violence, there are some situations in which it might be the only option as a means of self-defense.

The same is not true for abortion – unlike adult aggressors, the preborn child rarely ever presents immediate danger to the life of the mother in modern times. Furthermore, the unborn child is never an aggressor towards the mother from whom she must defend herself.

This discussion should not be construed as to support war or the effects of war.  War is very detrimental to a society and to human life. It should be the last resort and should only be pursued under limited circumstances.

While abortion and war are different, they are also similar in the fact that they lead to a loss of life.

The death tolls in some of America’s well-known wars were as follows…

The Revolutionary War – the U.S. military saw 4,435 deaths.

The Civil War – the U.S. military saw 623,026 deaths

World War One – the U.S. military saw 116,708 deaths

World War Two – the U.S. military saw 407,316 deaths [1]

So, in the history of the United States, there have been approximately 1.2 million American deaths as a result of war.

This is approximately the same number of deaths as is seen every single year, in America alone, as a result of legalized abortion.

The unfortunate truth is that no war is as great a destroyer of life as the war against the unborn. The death toll for this war now totals nearly 53 million since abortion was made legal in 1973.

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References

[1] BrothersWar. (2011). “Total Military Deaths for American Wars.” http://www.brotherswar.com/Perspective-9.htm

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Most people are aware of the fact that abortion is generally legal.

However, many would be surprised to learn how far through the pregnancy abortion is legal.

Abortion is actually legal throughout all 9 months of a pregnancy – from conception right up to birth.

There were state laws that placed restrictions on abortion before 1973, but Roe v. Wade made all abortions legal until the preborn is viable [1].

The court placed viability at the beginning of the third trimester.

This decision put the preborn at especially high risk for the majority of the pregnancy, but left room open for some restrictions during the third trimester.

Roe’s companion case, Doe v. Bolton, went further and made abortions available for virtually any reason until birth [2].

Another major case that led to the legalization of abortion in all nine months was Thornburg v. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In this case, all abortion restrictions were struck down.

This included alternatives to abortion and risks of abortion.

The Thornburg case also allowed third trimester abortions to preserve the woman’s rights [3].

Due to these court decisions, abortion is legal throughout all nine months of the pregnancy at the federal level.

In 1992, however, the decision Planned Parenthood v. Casey allowed states to once again pass laws regulating abortion as long as those laws do not place an ‘undue burden’ on women seeking abortions. Many states have taken advantage of this decision and passed state-level legislation to curtail abortion.

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References

[1] U.S. Supreme Court. (1973). “Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973).” FindLaw, 22 Jan 1973. Web. 26 Jun 2011. http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&navby=case&vol=410&invol=113

[2] U.S. Supreme Court. (1973). “Doe v. Bolton (No. 70-40).” Cornell University Law School. U.S. Supreme Court, 22 Jan 1973. Web. 26 Jun 2011. http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0410_0179_ZS.html

[3] U.S. Supreme Court. (1973). “Thornburgh v. American College of Obst. & Gyn., 476 U.S. 747 (1986).” FindLaw, 11 Jun 1986. Web. 26 Jun 2011. http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=476&invol=747

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In an effort to reduce the number of abortions and protect mothers from the abortion industry, states throughout the country are passing laws to restrict and regulate abortion.

While many of us believe the human right to life should be inalienable and respected in every location alike, the unfortunate truth is that it is not, neither in law nor action.

For example, the level of protection given to a preborn baby can depend greatly on the particular state in which his or her mother happens to live.

The good news is that Supreme Court cases such as Planned Parenthood v. Casey have upheld a state’s right to impose certain restrictions on abortion. This case has spurred the passing of many laws around the country on the state level. There is also a great deal of research to indicate that various state restrictions that have been passed since have been successful in reducing abortions.

There are a variety of different types of laws that place restrictions on abortion. These include…

– Women’s Right-To-Know Laws

– Record-Keeping Requirements for Abortion Clinics

– Parental Consent/Notification Laws

– Safety Regulations for abortion clinics

– Physician-Only Requirements

– Protection of Unborn Victims of Violence Laws

Unfortunately not all states have these laws, but many within the pro-life movement believe these laws are a huge step forward for protecting the rights of the preborn, and helping make abortion unthinkable.

Taking Action in Your State

For those of us who have become aware of the facts regarding abortion and realize that it ends a human life, the desire to end abortion immediately is very strong.

Pro-lifers want to accept nothing less than an immediate reversal of Roe v. Wade, which has caused such great harm to the lives of millions of women, and millions of preborn children.

However, some of the advice provided by legal experts suggests that most major policy shifts do not occur overnight, but gradually over time.

Because of this, focusing on pro-life legislation in state legislatures is of critical importance. We must demand and hope that abortion is ended immediately, but we must also take every ‘baby step’ towards that goal here and now.

Each law at any level of government is one step closer to the legal protection that was destroyed by Roe v. Wade, no matter how minor.

Whatever legal gains we are able to make on the state level, while they are certainly not enough, ought to be seen as building a foundation. These create a precedent for the future upon which more powerful laws can be built.

As of today, there is evidence to suggest that the pro-life movement is on the right track to eventually gaining rights for preborn children.

For example, the state of Mississippi has passed more than a dozen pro-life laws, and the result has been a nearly 60% decrease in abortions and the closing of 6 out of its 7 clinics in the state so far [2].

The research of political science suggests that state laws can be very effective in reducing abortion, being responsible for a “17-19% decline in abortions nationwide during the 1990s” [3].

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References

[1] Americans United for Life. (2008). Defending Life 2008. 3rd ed. Chicago, Il: Americans United for Life, 2008. Print.

[2] Americans United for Life. (2008). Defending Life 2008. 3rd ed. Chicago, Il: Americans United for Life, 2008. Print.

[3] Ibid

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Although Roe v. Wade is perhaps the most well-known Supreme Court case regarding abortion, there have in fact been others since then that have had a marked impact on the legal status of abortion in the United States.

Probably the most important case since row is Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which was decided in 1992 [1]. At the time, Pennsylvania had placed several requirements for women to meet before receiving abortions, including:

– Physicians had to make women aware of the medical risks of abortion and information about fetal development

– There had to be a mandatory 24 hour waiting period after the women received the information

– There was a one-parent consent requirement (with possibility of a judicial bypass)

– Abortion clinics were required to report certain information about the women receiving abortions, such as the age of the mother, the gestational age of the preborn child, and the reason for the abortion

– There was a requirement that women receiving abortions must notify their spouses

Each of these laws was a big challenge to Roe v. Wade because it was understood that Roe didn’t allow any restrictions at all.

In Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the Court found reaffirmed Roe v. Wade and struck down the requirement for spousal notification, but it also created a new, less strict interpretation of the “undue burden” standard of review [2].

While this was a missed opportunity to overturn Roe v. Wade, this latter part of the judgment opened the door for abortion to be better regulated by states. Since then many, many state laws have been passed to limit or restrict abortion. The declining abortion numbers are often attributed, at least in part, to these laws that were allowed by PP v. Casey.

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References

[1] Cornell University Law School. (1992). ” Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey (91-744), 505 U.S. 833 (1992).” Legal Information Institute. Cornell University Law School, 29 Jun 1992. Web. 15 Jul 2011.

[2] Ibid

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