Why young women should have abortions?

[Ed_Langevin]

My friend sent me this E-mail asking how I would respond???
I have a lot of feelings in this matter… So I thought I’d ask for help.
here is the e-mail I recieved

I received this message back today from what I

sent out this morning
concerning abortion. How would you reply?

Hi Wayne : Very good reading, but where you wrote >Well, did you know there
are “thousands” of
young girls ages 13 to 15 who get an abortion every
year ? And it’s not
for the reasons you wrote. Their parents know that
their future lives
would be ruined if they had to care for a child at
such a young age.

Todays people
sacrifice their children to the gods of convenience
and materialism
through abortion. … > They made a big mistake by having sex, and thinking
they wouldn’t get
pregnant. More then 50% of the teenagers today are
having sex, and not
using condoms. It’s an epidemic ! But not allowing
them to have an
abortion would be wrong. By having an abortion, they
can learn by their
mistake, and have a future in love and marriage. Or
a career if they
chose to do so. Plus I’m sure there are other good
reasons why some
older women want and need an abortion. You have to
walk in their shoes
to know their problems. Let God be their judge, not
a priest, not you,
nor anyone else. … That’s how I see it

 

[Kristina_P]

I am always impressed at people’s abilities to leave adoption out the argument altogether. It’s obvious to them that any woman who has a child is then obligated to raise that child herself, and there are certainly no loving couples out there willing to raise that child as their own.

There are so many programs and laws in place to protect women who get pregnant from having it “ruin their lives.” Besides, this whole line of reasoning ignores the central moral issue. A child is a child, inside the womb or outside of it. How would we look upon a woman who killed her 5-year-old out of concern that continuing her maternal role would hamper her career?

 

[1ke]

I have a couple of suggestions. First, Randy Alcorn’s book Pro Life Answers to Pro Choice Questions is excellent in how to form answers and respond to these obviously flawed types of arguments.

Also, Heritage House has a couple of brochures that address this type of flawed reasoning. I can think of “Ten Reasons I Want An Abortion” in particular. www.hh76.com

The main flaw is that this person is using a utilitarian ethic and denying the humanity of the child. No person can be killed for the convenience or benefit of another in a civilized society. Your friend fails to see that this is what he is advocating. He doens’t see the child as a person. He doesn’t see the end never justifies the means when the means are immoral.

Get these materials I suggested, because it seems like your friend has a whole list of “reasons” women might need abortions floating around in his mind… he’s bought into the flawed arguments of the culture… based on his comment to the effect that “there are many other reasons a woman might want or need one”.

 

[Scott_Waddell]

Notice no where in this email that there is talk of the unborn human being being murdered. Murder is the killing of an innocent human being. He is not going to be able to convince many that abortion isn’t killing, or that the baby isn’t innocent, but he may try to convince you the baby is not human. He still loses because the best he can say is that we don’t know if the baby is human. Even if that were so (and I don’t think it is by a longshot), we are still morally obligated to stay our hand from abortion because the mere possibility that the baby is human is enough.

Let me recommend Peter Kreeft’s The Unaborted Socrates. It makes a solid case against abortion without any appeals to religious doctrine.

Scott

 

[Vatican_II]

Kristina P.:

I am always impressed at people’s abilities to leave adoption out the argument altogether. It’s obvious to them that any woman who has a child is then obligated to raise that child herself, and there are certainly no loving couples out there willing to raise that child as their own.

There are so many programs and laws in place to protect women who get pregnant from having it “ruin their lives.” Besides, this whole line of reasoning ignores the central moral issue. A child is a child, inside the womb or outside of it. How would we look upon a woman who killed her 5-year-old out of concern that continuing her maternal role would hamper her career?

You are on target

The reason families push this alternative aside is that their daughter would have to carry the child through to birth which would mean the whole world would know about it. They do not necessarily think of their daughter, and certainly not about the unborn child. They think for the most part about the embarressment to themselves. They rationalize their actions by accepting that a fetus is something other than an unborn child and abortion is not murder but only similar to an appendectomy.

You could almost pity them if their crime wasn’t so loathsome.

:twocents:

 

[Brad]

Kristina P.:

How would we look upon a woman who killed her 5-year-old out of concern that continuing her maternal role would hamper her career?

We are not far from accepting this.

 

[Brad]

Vatican II:

You are on target

The reason families push this alternative aside is that their daughter would have to carry the child through to birth which would mean the whole world would know about it. They do not necessarily think of their daughter, and certainly not about the unborn child. They think for the most part about the embarressment to themselves. They rationalize their actions by accepting that a fetus is something other than an unborn child and abortion is not murder but only similar to an appendectomy.

You could almost pity them if their crime wasn’t so loathsome.

:twocents:

This is true. It is amazing what “good families” will do to make it look to society as though their child hasn’t done what a good many of the other children are also doing.

What would help in this matter is if the churches would rally around what is going on. For example, repetitive preaching on abstinence and marriage and repentance and confession if we fail - with emphasis on support from the church community in all circumstances. Then, when somebody fails, the church community could be privately encouraged to rally around the family.

A while back, there was a thread regarding a girl that was restricted from walking across the state at Catholic school graduation because she was pregnant. I believe this is the wrong approach. Many that I usually agree with contested me. But as long as someone thinks the church will shame and neglect them if they find out about their sin, the more people will turn to covering up their sin via compounding it.

The bottom line is that the churches need to return to preaching the Gospel in season and out of season and stop trying to follow the cash flow.

 

[Dorothy]

Young girls and their parents need to learn that bringing the baby to term and allowing it to be adopted is a selfless act.

I know of so many people having to go to China and Russia to adopt. There are many couples who cannot have children who would love to adopt one of these unwanted children.

 

[Michael_C]

For me the response is very simple. She talks about the lives of these young girls being ruined while ignoring the obvious fact that the aborted baby is a person also.

You can not seperate the baby from the equation which she is doing. The confusion shouldn’t be in your response, the confusion was in her remark.

 

[gardenswithkids]

Ed Langevin:

My friend sent me this E-mail asking how I would respond???
I have a lot of feelings in this matter… So I thought I’d ask for help.

A couple other points I’d suggest you make:

Until abortion became widely available,(contraception too for that matter) teenage pregnancy was much less common. Rather than simply helping girls who are in trouble, it misleads girls and boys into believing that sex has no consequence. That falsehood leads not just to unplanned pregnancy, but a whole host of other social problems.

Also, your friend responds that you should let God be their judge. Your friend has also judged them–he/she judges their abortion to be acceptable. If your friend really wants to let God be their judge, he/she should open his/her mind to the possibility that God might not favor abortion.

 

[Aaron_I]

Ed Langevin:

By having an abortion, they can learn by their mistake, and have a future in love and marriage.

That is my favorite part. I’ve got an idea, let’s encourage kids to be bolemic so that they can learn by their mistake and have a future of healthy eating.

 

[Anglican77]

Disclaimer: I oppose abortion and I am tired of pro-choice people ignoring the option of adoption. This post is dripping in sarcasm.

If you want to respond by stooping to the same level as this email was written, you could argue that by having the child and giving it up for adoption, you are ensuring that the girl will have a good financial future because some couples in the USA are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars for a baby. This argument also works as a counter-argument to those who say they cannot afford to have a child.

 

[Kristina_P]

Brad:

We are not far from accepting this.

Yeah, I know. Just a sign of how terribly corrupted and warped the human conscience can become.

 

[Kristina_P]

Brad:

A while back, there was a thread regarding a girl that was restricted from walking across the state at Catholic school graduation because she was pregnant.

That’s sad. Could you direct me to the thread? I’d like to know what reasoning the school used to back up such a decision, as it seemed to deny God’s forgiveness.

 

[Ruthie]

Others have stated the obvious about the fetus being a real child, not a blob of glup, so I won’t re-hash it.

Just on a semantic level - can your friend not see the contradiction between

…there are “thousands” of young girls ages 13 to 15 who get an abortion every year ?

and

By having an abortion, they can learn by their mistake, …

(emphasis mine)

Harumph. Ask your friend to explain how having an abortion every year is learning from their mistakes?

And remind him that getting pregnant is the natural result of having sex; it’s not a medical problem to be “fixed.”

And, of course, pray for him… I will, too.

 

[Brad]

Kristina P.:

That’s sad. Could you direct me to the thread? I’d like to know what reasoning the school used to back up such a decision, as it seemed to deny God’s forgiveness.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=56080&page=1&pp=100

 

[PLAL]

Please read Christopher West’s Theology of the Body. Click on Theology of the Body below.

 

[Libero]

I believe strongly that in many cases having an abortion can actually have a negative effect on ones mental state, particularly for young teenagers.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

Listmania!
Healing after Abortion Emily Peterson "After Abortion’ blog

You're Not Alone : Healing Through God's Grace After Abortion by Jennifer O'Neill

$10.17 Used & New from: $8.60
This is my top recommendation for those who want to begin the journey of healing after abortion.

Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion by Theresa Burke

$16.47 Used & New from: $14.40
Comprehensive review of abortion-related trauma. It will help you understand what you are experiencing and motivate your journey to healing.

Her Choice to Heal: Finding Spiritual and Emotional Peace After Abortion by Sydna Masse

$8.79 Used & New from: $1.75
One of the four best books in the field.

Forgiven and Set Free: A Post-Abortion Bible Study for Women by Linda Cochrane

$9.99 Used & New from: $2.76
This book is especially helpful used as the basis for a group. Some women find some of the language too harsh. Call 1-800-395-HELP to find a group.

A Solitary Sorrow (Women/Inspirational) by Teri Reisser

$9.59 Used & New from: $2.75
One of the top four books to start you on the road to comfort and healing.

Grieving Reproductive Loss: The Healing Process (Death, Value and Meaning) by Anne Lassance

$49.95 Used & New from: $49.95
A superb guide for those who want to become post-abortion counselors.

Catholic Women & Abortion: Stories of Healing by Pat King

$7.95 Used & New from: $2.99
Find inspiration in other’s stories.

Do Not Lose Hope: Healing the Wounded Heart of Women Who Have Had Abortions by William F., Reverend Maestri

$5.95 Used & New from: $3.96
A good resource for pastors and priests.

Will I cry tomorrow?: Healing post-abortion trauma by Susan M Stanford-Rue

Used & New from: $4.73
Excellent choice.

Rachel's Vineyard: A Psychological and Spiritual Journey of Post-Abortion Healing : A Model for Groups by Theresa Karminski Burke

$10.36 Used & New from: $8.35
A leader’s guide to conducting a post-abortion recovery group. Call 1-877-HOPE-4-ME to find a group.

Men and Abortion: A Path to Healing by C. T Coyle

Used & New from: $125.95
The definitive book about male reactions to abortion.

Healing a Fathers Heart: A Post-Abortion Bible Study for Men by Linda Cochrane

$8.79 Used & New from: $5.48
A top choice for Christian men struggling after abortion. Men can also find support through Rachel’s Vineyard at 1-877-HOPE-4-ME.

Peace After Abortion by Ava Torre-Bueno

Used & New from: $5.99
Written from the perspective that fetuses are not real babies, this book does acknowledge the reality of pain and regret after abortion.

Unspeakable Losses : Healing From Miscarriage, Abortion, And Other Pregnancy Loss by Kim Kluger-Bell

$11.20 Used & New from: $4.39
Offers some help and perspective about abortion but not a top choice because the primary focus is elsewhere.

A Season to Heal by Luci Freed

$8.21 Used & New from: $1.94

Women's Health After Abortion: The Medical and Psychological Evidence (Second Edition, 2003) by Elizabeth Ring-Cassidy

$13.57 Used & New from: $13.57
Comprehensive and detailed review of medical literature examining the negative emotional health consequences of abortion.

Detrimental Effects of Abortion: An Annotated Bibliography With Commentary by Thomas W. Strahan

$23.07 Used & New from: $23.05
If you want to know what the academic literature says about the detrimental effects of abortion, this book is for you.

The Healing Choice : Your Guide to Emotional Recovery After an Abortion by Dana Dovitch

$10.40 Used & New from: $1.95
The authors do not believe in the sanctity of life but are aware that many women experience a profound negative reaction to abortion. Helps validate what you may be feeling and offers some exercises.

Finding Peace After Abortion by Loraine Allison

Used & New from: $12.64
A helpful introduction.

Abortion & Healing: A Cry to Be Whole by Michael T. Mannion

$14.95 Used & New from: $2.75

No One Told Me I Could Cry: A Teens Guide to Hope and Healing After Abortion by Connie Nykiel

Used & New from: $4.59

Living With Your Choice: An Inner Healing for Abortion by Eric Alan Braun

Used & New from: $26.85

Five Steps Toward Post-Abortion Healing by Holly Francis

Used & New from: $15.00

Psycho-Spiritual Healing After an Abortion by Douglas R. Crawford

$6.95 Used & New from: $1.44

Post-Abortion Trauma: Nine Steps to Recovery (Lifelines for recovery) by Jeanette Vought

Used & New from: $4.76

 

[Zerith]

The world is moving towards a more Eugenist ideology, and yet, the same people deny the link between themselves and Hitler.