IWhy do you think that rape (and if applicable, incest) are reasons to allow for an abortion? What does an abortion do to help either of these situations.
First of all, I have to start with: The misconception that the Church allows Plan B in the case of rape is just that, a misconception. The Church forbids Plan B even in the case of rape. Those Catholic hospitals who are offering Plan B in the case of rape are either testing for pregnancy first, testing for ovulation first, or not following the Church’s teaching. Without this forum I probably wouldn’t have ever known this fact. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but whether one agrees with that teaching or not, it’s our responsibilty as Catholics to make sure our fellow Catholics understand what the Church teaches. In order to make a truly informed choice, you have to have all the facts. With that in mind, here is what I think about it:
I thank God every day that I can’t imagine being in that position of being raped and worrying about getting pregnant as a result of it. IMOHO, It takes a special person to try not to prevent a pregnacy in the case of rape. To me it seems like that would a reflexive form of self-defense in which the urge would be hard to overcome. It’s an innate drive in us to try and protect ourselves from harm in all forms.
If a woman gets raped and goes to the hospital immediately for medical care, I can understand why a woman would take Plan B to avoid conception. Considering that conception actually takes
time to happen, and doesn’t happen immediately after sexual activity, I can understand why racing against time to prevent conception from happening in the first place is worth the risk. In addition, in a time of crisis, a woman probably most likely will not know where in her cycle she is anyway. And by the time she tries to figure it out, it may be too late. So since I think it’s human nature and natural to attempt to protect oneself, including protect oneself from an unwanted pregnancy due to rape, I understand the gamble one is willing to take to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. In this case, the intent is to avoid a pregnancy, not to terminate one. Yes, there is a risk that it will become and termination and not a prevention, but again, I understand the willingness to take that risk in the case of rape.
If she has delayed medical intervention for whatever reason (for fear or shame, or whatever circumstances lead to a delay), then I think she lost her opportunity, and the chances are much higher that she will actually terminate a pregnancy rather than prevent one. In that case, she’s going to avoid implantation rather than conception. Therefore, IMOHO once that opprotunity is gone, that woman is not racing against time to avoid conception, but rather, at this point she is opting for an abortion for sure.
Now I’m not saying that the woman who gets raped, and chooses not to have Plan B is masochistic, or doesn’t care about herself. I’m just saying that it’s only natural to attempt to protect oneself, not only from the violation iteself, but the results of that violation.
Everyone is different in what they can take. Some women who get pregnant as a result of rape could look on that as a good thing resulting from an evil event. They can look on that child as a blessing that turned a sinful situation to one of goodness. Others would be constantly reminded of that rape, and the situation is just going to compound on itself and cause more harm than “good”. For some women, it’s not as simple as waiting it out for nine months as a baby grows inside her, laboring to give birth and giving up the baby for adoption. Rather it’s a terrible emotional and mental hardship. Not everyone is going to view this child as a blessing. For some, it’s going to compound their hardship. That’s a fact.
I just don’t see how someone can claim that aborting after being pregnant due to rape causes emotional damage - Not anymore than anything else following the rape during the healing process. I’ve asked this forum once if anyone had any research regarding this claim and no one responded. So I guess there isn’t any? However, I don’t see how either choice will make post-rape healing “easier”. But I
can understand how one choice might make it much more difficult for one to become whole again, than the other, depending on the person. And by choice, I mean either. In other words, I can also understand how having an abortion post-rape could also make the situation more traumatic for some women.
Ok, I’ll admit it, I’m not going to lie: I personally don’t get exactly why they would blatantly have an abortion (post rape) after knowing full well they are indeed pregnant. However, I’m NOT willing to judge them. And I’m not going to brow-beat them.
But trying to prevent it in the first place, I can understand that.
