A Catholic senator's plan to reduce abortion in the U.S.

[Arizona_Mike]

A Catholic senator suggested some reasonable alternatives to the explosion in abortions. I think his point is that it is not enough to end abortion, we must also provide assistance to those facing problems in pregnancies:

"I believe that Federal funds should be made available for ‘life support’ organisations to counteract the Federal grants for abortion programs now available to clinics and hospitals. There should he better educational services for unwed mothers, many of whom are students, to erase the social stigma much of our society still brands single parenthood.

Both couples and single mothers. I believe, should be able to obtain some type of birth defect insurance during early pregnancy, so that if they have a defective child, the cost of special medical care and training can more readily be borne. And I believe that maternity coverage for dependent minors or unmarried women would be available at the same cost that medical insurance policies presently provide for abortions.

Simply, the focus should be on the services required to support a woman through a pregnancy, rather than on the provision of abortion. There is no question of the need for such services since the estimates that one in every three pregnant single women in our country today is under the age of 17. Abortion is not the answer for these young mothers.

As a member of the Senate and as Chairman of the Senate Sub-committee on Health, it is my intention to seek and support legislation providing for these and other alternatives to abortion. I share the view of the American Citizens Concerned for Life. Inc. which holds that ‘women must not be forced by circumstances to seek an abortion because of the lack of an acceptable alternative and an implied national policy against life’."

The writer of this statement? The late Senator Ted Kennedy, in a letter to the Boston archdiocese’s newspaper (The Pilot) back in 1975.

I don’t think he ever actually pushed for any of that, but the ideas themselves, which he apparently later abandoned, weren’t bad.

 

[odile53]

This is why I wish there was a “like” button on CAF!

Probably most women seeking abortions aren’t seeking them the way one would go shopping for a new car. Their mindset is probably more like an animal willing to gnaw its leg off to get out of a trap.

IF this ridiculous nation of ours could FINALLY support parenthood (both wed and unwed,) including the measures that the late Sen. Kennedy outlined, it would do much to reduce the perception among women that abortion is the most expedient way out of an unexpected pregnancy.

In any case, something needs to be done to support parenthood. The birth rate is shrinking. That means in twenty or so years, a smaller workforce, a smaller military, a shrinking economy, and very few people to sustain a population whose average age is advancing.

 

[LisaA]

This is why I wish there was a “like” button on CAF!

Probably most women seeking abortions aren’t seeking them the way one would go shopping for a new car. Their mindset is probably more like an animal willing to gnaw its leg off to get out of a trap.

IF this ridiculous nation of ours could FINALLY support parenthood (both wed and unwed,) including the measures that the late Sen. Kennedy outlined, it would do much to reduce the perception among women that abortion is the most expedient way out of an unexpected pregnancy.

In any case, something needs to be done to support parenthood. The birth rate is shrinking. That means in twenty or so years, a smaller workforce, a smaller military, a shrinking economy, and very few people to sustain a population whose average age is advancing.

Interesting but I think the real problem is that we’ve become SO incredibly selfish and self absorbed. I believe the decline in religion has a lot to do with this change in attitude. As Christians (and Jews I believe) we are taught to look outwardly to care for others and that children are a blessing of God. Marriage was a goal for most young adults who looked forward to building a life together.

This is NOT the way I was raised and I think the attitude of much of society indicates I wasn’t alone. My friends were all in college focused on career plans and the good life. I do not remember a SINGLE friend talking about getting married and having kids. As it was one of them did have one child and another waited until she was 50 then had IVF! But children have not been in the plan for a long time. Families are small now…have more than two children and people ask rudely “Was this planned?” Much focus on consumer goods, acquiring more and more. Working moms drive the “need” for more stuff…two cars, multiple media (TVs satelite radio, computers).I think parenthood is seen as just another thing you do between career building, acquisitions, travel and fun.

THink of Obama’s comments that he didn’t want his girls “punished with a baby.” Children are seen as a burden, an expense, an obligation and something that gets in the way of more important priorities.

I truly do not think women are getting abortions because they think they will be out in the street with no resources but because of the changed attitude toward marriages, family and children.

Lisa

 

[october_baby]

Interesting but I think the real problem is that we’ve become SO incredibly selfish and self absorbed. I believe the decline in religion has a lot to do with this change in attitude. As Christians (and Jews I believe) we are taught to look outwardly to care for others and that children are a blessing of God. Marriage was a goal for most young adults who looked forward to building a life together.

This is NOT the way I was raised and I think the attitude of much of society indicates I wasn’t alone. My friends were all in college focused on career plans and the good life. I do not remember a SINGLE friend talking about getting married and having kids. As it was one of them did have one child and another waited until she was 50 then had IVF! But children have not been in the plan for a long time. Families are small now…have more than two children and people ask rudely “Was this planned?” Much focus on consumer goods, acquiring more and more. Working moms drive the “need” for more stuff…two cars, multiple media (TVs satelite radio, computers).I think parenthood is seen as just another thing you do between career building, acquisitions, travel and fun.

THink of Obama’s comments that he didn’t want his girls “punished with a baby.” Children are seen as a burden, an expense, an obligation and something that gets in the way of more important priorities.

I truly do not think women are getting abortions because they think they will be out in the street with no resources but because of the changed attitude toward marriages, family and children.

Lisa

Good call Lisa!

 

[Dakota_Roberts]

A Catholic senator suggested some reasonable alternatives to the explosion in abortions. I think his point is that it is not enough to end abortion, we must also provide assistance to those facing problems in pregnancies:

The writer of this statement? The late Senator Ted Kennedy, in a letter to the Boston archdiocese’s newspaper (The Pilot) back in 1975.

I don’t think he ever actually pushed for any of that, but the ideas themselves, which he apparently later abandoned, weren’t bad.

Adoption needs to be encouraged more, especially for the pregnant young adults and teens as they can ill afford to raise a baby, while they can’t really afford a baby there are more people who want to adopt than there are babies to adopt.

 

[oneofmany]

Some people were doing a survey of college campuses to find if they had any help or programs for single or young mothers. That is the place where it seems most unplanned pregnancies happen and the young women are concentrating on finishing their studies and an unplanned pregnancy can “get in the way.”

A man was walking around with a baby on his back and asking the students if there was anyplace where he could take his baby to change him and feed him. They didn’t know of any. Incredible they don’t think that way but I bet Planned Parenthood was there.

They wanted to get programs started so there would be facilities like that to help young parents or single mothers on campus. I am wondering if they got anything going with the government like that or do they just want to give money for abortions?

I guess if the government won’t do it maybe charities can but then they might be chased off since they can’t combine church and state.

 

[1ke]

Showing his true colors by referring to some children as ‘defective children’.

 

[Christy_Beth]

I know of one case that falls under this. Several years ago there was a couple who had an untrasound, sonogram but wasn’t told of the results. They had requested that, but the doctor refused to tell them. The baby was born with not legs and no arms. They sued the doctor for “wrongful birth.” They clamed they loved the little girl, but wouod have had an abortion if they ha been told about her disability at the time of the untrasound. If that girl grows up and is told this, how would she react? “We love you, but we got all this money because we sued the doctor for “wrongful birth,” we would have aborted you had we known about your disability at the time of the ultrasound.” I’ sure they kid would have found out eventually, even if her parents said had said nothing.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Crocodile tears from a man who supported abortion all his life. One hopes he repented before his death. But he didn’t do it publicly, which he should have.

Unfortunately, this kind of expression, while meritorious in itself, when combined with acceptance, even support of abortion on demand, is a means of rationalizing an absolute evil. We have seen that done on here many times in the past. Kennedy owed it to the public to recant over his support of that evil lest others be led astray by the rationalization.

To my knowledge, he never did.

 

[tjones80]

A Catholic senator suggested some reasonable alternatives to the explosion in abortions. I think his point is that it is not enough to end abortion, we must also provide assistance to those facing problems in pregnancies:

The writer of this statement? The late Senator Ted Kennedy, in a letter to the Boston archdiocese’s newspaper (The Pilot) back in 1975.

I don’t think he ever actually pushed for any of that, but the ideas themselves, which he apparently later abandoned, weren’t bad.

Actually abortion has gone down by about 700,000 per year in the USA. The main reason for that is comprehensive sex education for teenagers and easy access to birth control.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Actually abortion has gone down by about 700,000 per year in the USA. The main reason for that is comprehensive sex education for teenagers and easy access to birth control.

Undoubtedly fewer women of child-bearing age as a percentage of the population as well.

And, of course, abortions are probably underreported because of the availability of abortifacients like Plan B and Ella.

 

[Matilda_Bennett]

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