women and rape

[h1478971]

What should a true Catholic woman who is raped do?

Many People today say abortion for the product of a rape.

This is very tough for women to deal with. What are the remedies?

 

[Seatuck]

She should seek immediate medical care . She may take action to prevent conception. She may not abort a baby.
She should pray for God’s help with the matter.

 

[ahs]

Do you mean if she becomes pregnant as a result of the rape? The Church teaches that the baby’s right to life must be protected. It does not give any exceptions, even in cases of rape. So an abortion would still be a mortal sin and result in excommunication (CCC2270-2275). While seeking to punish the perpetrator, it is important not to project the desire for punishment onto the innocent baby within the victim’s womb.

Rape is a horrible and cruel act and does tremendous damage to the victim. Aborting the baby that resulted from it would only increase the damage (spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally). Prayer, counseling…

 

[Rence]

What should a true Catholic woman who is raped do?

Many People today say abortion for the product of a rape.

This is very tough for women to deal with. What are the remedies?

She should do like anyone else: Go to the hospital to get medical care. The US Bishops allow the use of emergency contraception to avoid a forced pregnancy as a result of rape, as long as 1) the patient is negative for a pregnancy test, to ensure she wasn’t already pregnant in the first place. And 2) test negative for ovulation.

catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0566.html

The Directives state, “A woman who has been raped may defend herself against a conception resulting from sexual assault. If, after appropriate testing, there is no evidence that conception has occurred already, she may be treated with medication that would prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization. It is not permissible, however, to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum.”(no. 36)

The woman who is a victim of rape has the moral right to prevent the pregnancy for the following reasons: First, the rapist (including his sperm) is an unjust aggressor who has violated the woman’s dignity. Second, rape is an act of force and violence, unlike the conjugal love in marriage whereby both spouses give freely of themselves in an act of unitive and procreative love. Third, the woman is not responsible for the action, and thereby has the right to prevent the pregnancy. (Please note that for these three reasons, this guidance does not violate the Church’ s teaching regarding contraception as expressed in Humanae Vitae, which, because of the free-giving between spouses, stated, "Each and every marriage act must remain open to the transmission of life (no. 11).)

In preventing pregnancy, most rape treatment protocols recommend anti-fertility drugs to be administered within 72 hours and over a period of several days. These drugs, such as Ovral, inhibit ovulation.

However, if after all of that, she still becomes pregnant, the Church doesn’t allow any further action. The Church demands that she carry the pregnancy as usual. She can either keep the child or give it up for adoption. But the Church forbids an abortion.

 

[Rascalking]

If pro-lifers are going to be honest, we should admit that the rape “exception” to abortion is probably among the hardest to defend. Hear me well-I am pro-life, even in the case of rape. However, it’s still uncomofortable to defend.

I would listen to the victim, make sure the offender gets the gas chamber, and then try to convince her that the baby of the rapist is an innocent person, and does not deserve to die for the sins of the father.

Again, I am 100 percent pro-life, but the rape exception is a thorny issue.

 

[Corki]

She should seek immediate medical care . She may take action to prevent conception. She may not abort a baby.
She should pray for God’s help with the matter.

And she should do everything she can to help the police punish her attacker and keep him from hurting her or anyone else again.

 

[Inquiringperson]

If pro-lifers are going to be honest, we should admit that the rape “exception” to abortion is probably among the hardest to defend. Hear me well-I am pro-life, even in the case of rape. However, it’s still uncomofortable to defend.

I would listen to the victim, make sure the offender gets the gas chamber, and then try to convince her that the baby of the rapist is an innocent person, and does not deserve to die for the sins of the father.

Again, I am 100 percent pro-life, but the rape exception is a thorny issue.

I agree with everything you said except for the part I highlighted. If a person truly is pro-life, he or she will not try to get people executed unless it is absolutely necessary.

 

[CountrySteve]

they should keep the baby and the law should get the lynching rope for the rapist

 

[Rence]

If pro-lifers are going to be honest, we should admit that the rape “exception” to abortion is probably among the hardest to defend. Hear me well-I am pro-life, even in the case of rape. However, it’s still uncomofortable to defend.

I would listen to the victim, make sure the offender gets the gas chamber, and then try to convince her that the baby of the rapist is an innocent person, and does not deserve to die for the sins of the father.

Again, I am 100 percent pro-life, but the rape exception is a thorny issue.

I agree with everything you said!! Thank You!!

 

[105lynne]

I agree with everything you said except for the part I highlighted. If a person truly is pro-life, he or she will not try to get people executed unless it is absolutely necessary.

Yes, I agree.

 

[cephas161619]

If pro-lifers are going to be honest, we should admit that the rape “exception” to abortion is probably among the hardest to defend. Hear me well-I am pro-life, even in the case of rape. However, it’s still uncomofortable to defend.

Again, I am 100 percent pro-life, but the rape exception is a thorny issue.

It makes you uncomfortable? Tell that to someone whose father was a rapist. Thank God not everyone aborts after rape, that many mothers are offered true healing and compassion. One person I’ve met is Rebecca. You can find her story here: rebeccakiessling.com/index.html Think what you say to someone like her when you say that it’s a thorny issue. That’s like saying that they don’t really deserve to live. It’s easy to say when someone small is involved, and they can’t answer back, so you don’t have to give them a face. But try saying it to someone who has grown up (and there are many such stories). Then the lie is really exposed for what it is.

 

[TimothyH]

I agree with everything you said except for the part I highlighted. If a person truly is pro-life, he or she will not try to get people executed unless it is absolutely necessary.

I agree. It is not possible to claim a 100% pro-life postion when one demands the life of anyone.

they should keep the baby and the law should get the lynching rope for the rapist

For anyone in the western world, a position which demands the life of the rapist as repayment for his crime is indefensible given the clear teaching of the Catholc Church regarding just and acceptable use of the death penalty in the Catechism.

*CCC2267 Assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.

If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.

Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm - without definitely taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity “are very rare, if not practically non-existent.”*

-Tim-

 

[valentino]

What should a true Catholic woman who is raped do?

Many People today say abortion for the product of a rape.

This is very tough for women to deal with. What are the remedies?

She shouldn’t kill the baby.This life is a creation of God.Even though the woman has been violated God allowed this to happen and killing a life is not proportional to the pain or discomfort the woman has to bear in carrying this child to term.After she has delivered it she be her choice as to what should happen to the infant.Either she keeps it or its put up for adoption.

 

[Rascalking]

It makes you uncomfortable? Tell that to someone whose father was a rapist. Thank God not everyone aborts after rape, that many mothers are offered true healing and compassion. One person I’ve met is Rebecca. You can find her story here: rebeccakiessling.com/index.html Think what you say to someone like her when you say that it’s a thorny issue. That’s like saying that they don’t really deserve to live. It’s easy to say when someone small is involved, and they can’t answer back, so you don’t have to give them a face. But try saying it to someone who has grown up (and there are many such stories). Then the lie is really exposed for what it is.

LOL!

Let’s just say I know her story firsthand.

Maybe I wasn’t clear-I do NOT support abortion under rape. I believe I said that.

Yes, it does make me uncomfortable.

 

[karow]

What should a true Catholic woman who is raped do?

Anyone who’se been raped, male or female, “true” Catholic or not, should:

1. Get themselves to a safe place.
2. Notify the police immediately, even if it means reporting a family member or a friend. Reporting the crime can help regain a sense of personal power and control.
3. Call someone they trust who can give them support.
4. Preserve all physical evidence of the assault. They shouldn’t shower, bathe, douche, eat, drink, wash their hands, or brush their teeth until after they have had a medical exam.
5. Go to the emergency room, even if they think they are uninjured, they should still have a medical examination and discuss with a health care provider the risk of exposure to sexually transmitted infections and the possibility of pregnancy resulting from the attack. A Catholic victim of rape has the right to prevent conception by any procedure that is not an abortifacient.

Having a medical exam is also preserves physical evidence of a sexual assault.

The hospital should also take a urine sample to test for drugs like Rohypnol and GHB (i.e., “date rape drugs”).

1. Write down as much as they can remember about the circumstances of the attack. Be as detailed as possible.
2. Contact a rape crises or victim assistance center in they community. After a rape, victims have a lot of choices and decisions to make - e.g., about getting medical care, making a police report, and telling other people. They may have concerns about the impact of the assault and the reactions of friends and family.
3. Talk with a counselor who is trained to assist rape victims. Counseling can help people learn how to cope with the emotional and physical impacts of a rape.

Victims living in the US can find a counselor by calling 1-800-656-HOPE.

 

[copperblade]

If pro-lifers are going to be honest, we should admit that the rape “exception” to abortion is probably among the hardest to defend. Hear me well-I am pro-life, even in the case of rape. However, it’s still uncomofortable to defend.

I don’t think it’s so hard to defend. Why does rape make the life of an unborn child terminable? Anyway, I think it’s harder to defend a position against abortion to save the mother’s life.

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

If pro-lifers are going to be honest, we should admit that the rape “exception” to abortion is probably among the hardest to defend. Hear me well-I am pro-life, even in the case of rape. However, it’s still uncomofortable to defend.

I would listen to the victim, make sure the offender gets the gas chamber, and then try to convince her that the baby of the rapist is an innocent person, and does not deserve to die for the sins of the father.

Again, I am 100 percent pro-life, but the rape exception is a thorny issue.

I totally agree with you on this issue.

It’s hard to defend the life of the child in this scenario because it’s uncomfortable, but it has the be done. The child is totally innocent and doesn’t deserve to be killed because of what his father did. The woman needs to know that it is still her child as much as it is his, and she can love that child. If she can’t face it (and let’s be honest - that’s no fault of her own character) there are literally millions out there just waiting to adopt such a child.

There is no need to compound the innocent woman’s hurt by telling her she needs an abortion in addition to the rape. She needs loving supportive people, and medical care. Besides, she can get to medical care RIGHT away to prevent conception and convict the man who did it. Women also need to know that rape is NEVER their fault and people need to surround her in love so that when it happens, she can come forward boldly and get help, love, and support.

 

[Rence]

I totally agree with you on this issue.

It’s hard to defend the life of the child in this scenario because it’s uncomfortable, but it has the be done. The child is totally innocent and doesn’t deserve to be killed because of what his father did. The woman needs to know that it is still her child as much as it is his, and she can love that child. If she can’t face it (and let’s be honest - that’s no fault of her own character) there are literally millions out there just waiting to adopt such a child.

There is no need to compound the innocent woman’s hurt by telling her she needs an abortion in addition to the rape. She needs loving supportive people, and medical care. Besides, she can get to medical care RIGHT away to prevent conception and convict the man who did it. Women also need to know that rape is NEVER their fault and people need to surround her in love so that when it happens, she can come forward boldly and get help, love, and support.

I also agree with everything you said as well. But I still feel it should be the woman’s choice in the case of rape (as well as when a woman’s life is in danger, as another poster mentioned). Some women would not be able to emotionally and psychologically handle a pregnancy after a rape. Some women would not only be able, but might be blessed to find that child a comfort, miracle and something wonderful that happened as a result of something so horrifying and tragic. Not everyone is the same. And I completely agree that rape victims are more likely to choose life when support is offered during their worst time. Thank God this is statistically a very rare reason given for rape.

 

[Rascalking]

I totally agree with you on this issue.
.

Thanks Whitacre!

 

[Rascalking]

I don’t think it’s so hard to defend. Why does rape make the life of an unborn child terminable? Anyway, I think it’s harder to defend a position against abortion to save the mother’s life.

Yes, both are very difficult. If you think telling a woman she must carry the child of the man who ATTACKED HER isn’t challenging, that your either incredibly insensitive, or your missing the point.

Again, just to make myself clear-I am 100 percent pro-life, even in this case.

I can walk and chew gum at the same time though.