women and rape

[Debra_C]

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.

SInce it is possible in our modern society to prevent said rapist from hurting other women without putting him to death, I would have to agree… the pro-life stance would be to not impose the death penalty. Regadless, I don’t know of any state (I am not a lawyer, and I may well be wrong, mind you) that considers rape to be a capital offense for which death could be imposed as a penalty anyway.

Certainly a child resulting from the rape, however, is not culpable for the rapist’s crimes, and should therefore not be put to death because of it. I know all too well how difficult and painful a burden this can be. But the child is an innocent, not a criminal. As a rape survivor myself, I have to say this is a very delicate issue and I strongly empathize with the pain of women who suffer this. In such a case adoption may be the best option if pregnancy cannot be successfully prevented.

Most importantly, though, it is important to understand that the victim of such a crime has committed no sin. Rape is an act of violence. The victim does not have the exercise of her free will. Most rape victims go through a period of feeling very ashamed… thinking through how they could have prevented this from happening to them… feeling they are in some way to blame. Not only should she be encouraged to seek immediate medical attention (even after the fact, if the immediate has already passed) she should be encouraged to report the crime, even if she feels she cannot prove it, and to seek counselling! No one should have to endure that kind of trauma and suffering alone! Rape Crisis centers are available in many areas at no cost to rape victims with well trained and experienced counselors, many of whom are rape survivors themselves. Recovering from such a crime is a long and difficult process that involves dealing with the shame, the anger, the hurt, the feelings of powerlessness and grief, and often feelings of guilt as well.

If you know someone who is going through this, the best thing you can do is keep reminding her she is not at fault and just be a shoulder to cry on (as best you can) when she needs it. Also, if she doesn’t already know about Rape Crisis and hasn’t found a professional counselor to help her, you might point her in that direction.

 

[purplesunshine]

SInce it is possible in our modern society to prevent said rapist from hurting other women without putting him to death, I would have to agree… the pro-life stance would be to not impose the death penalty. Regadless, I don’t know of any state (I am not a lawyer, and I may well be wrong, mind you) that considers rape to be a capital offense for which death could be imposed as a penalty anyway.

Do you know how many “non-violent” (eg coersion or date rape or rape without a deadly wepon) rapists get less than 5 years??? LOTS. Far more than you think. Do you know how many reoffend(rapists, not some guy charged with sexual assult becuase he mooned at a footbal game)? Something like 70%. Do you know how many have 3 strikes? more than half. And did you know that most of the high profile rape cases lately (including Jacee Dugard) have been commited by people who were know and convicted rapists.

 

[Rascalking]

I know you are very pro-life, and thanks for saying this. You have no idea how much of a comfort it is to see posts like this from devout Catholics. More pro-choicers should see this so they dont think pro-lifers are all misogynists.

Thank you very much for the kind words. Very nice of you.

 

[Rascalking]

SInce it is possible in our modern society to prevent said rapist from hurting other women without putting him to death, I would have to agree… .

Hee hee hee.

Okay everyone, sorry for mentioning the death penalty! Didn’t mean to de-rail the thread. Just pretend I didn’t say that, even though it is excatly what I feel!

 

[Soldier_Of_God]

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 would be in full agreement. This position is very troublesome and problematic but that should not disuade one from defending it.

 

[Nate13]

@Flavius_Aetius

I’d would ask of them of all their rights that they cherish, which one do they cherish the most? If they are dead the other rights really don’t do them all that much good. If they are willing to concede that the baby in the womb is a person, the right to life of the baby out trumps all other lesser rights. Even the constitution orders them correctly: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Then again they might have the view that when they get old they would rather die then have to put up with the affects of old age. You would have to debate the fact that life is the most important right we have first before its worth going any farther.

 

[Walking_Home]

Below is what a person at another site–in response to this very same topic-- is adamantly promoting. That a woman who is raped and conceives—not report the rape–because the rapist and/or his family can get visitation rights. This person is trying to justify his/her view–on the problems that battered/abused women encounter when protecting themselves and children from abusive husbands.

This is a complicated situation. If there is not a pregnancy as a result, then yes tell everyone and report it.

However, if there is a pregnancy, do NOT say a single word. I know that sounds crazy. But it is a crazy world we live in. You do not know him, you never got his name. This is very important for the child’s sake.

The courts will force visitation rights for the father or they may even give him full custody ( for every child that is given to the noncustodial parent the courts get $450,000). Its all about the money for the courts.

If you can have this baby by midwife do so. Hospitals are getting very strict about information and they work with the courts. If you have to have the baby in the hospital be sure you do not put the fathers name on the birth certificate. You do not know him, it was a one night stand in another state or better yet visiting in another country, you never got his name.

DO NOT TELL THE HOSPITAL YOU WERE RAPED!!!

Adoption, again if you do not say anything about the rape, then what the agency must do is put an add about your sexual encounter in the newspaper in the city of the encounter ( US only, so I would say the encounter happened in another country). The father has a week to claim the baby. If he does not then the adoption can go on.

I know it was a hard thing to go through, but hush hush for the baby’s sake. Surround yourself with loving family whom you can trust.

Please do not let this information worry you. File it away right now, and focus on staying healthy for this baby and mums the word. There are excellent midwives and doctors in the TLM. There is an excellent attorney for adoptions in the TLM in St. Mary. Kansas. I have seen him do two very difficult adoptions with great success. One was a rape victim situation.

 

[Rence]

But you know what? I do know a rape victim who decided to keep her child, and she is having no end of trouble with the rapist and his “rights” to have visitation. She did tell the police, and he even went to jail and served time for rape. However, now that he is out, he’s a thorn in the woman’s side, and won visitation rights.

There is something frightening about having one’s rapist being allowed close proximity of his victim by picking up and dropping off their child and actually having visitation rights. So I can understand the above quote…

 

[JaneGrey]

But you know what? I do know a rape victim who decided to keep her child, and she is having no end of trouble with the rapist and his “rights” to have visitation. She did tell the police, and he even went to jail and served time for rape. However, now that he is out, he’s a thorn in the woman’s side, and won visitation rights.

There is something frightening about having one’s rapist being allowed close proximity of his victim by picking up and dropping off their child and actually having visitation rights. So I can understand the above quote…

This is awful to hear and the main reason why I have trouble with this. What do people think of the potential of this happening? I am not at all saying it should be a reason for abortion, but certainly something to think about.

 

[severus68]

But you know what? I do know a rape victim who decided to keep her child, and she is having no end of trouble with the rapist and his “rights” to have visitation. She did tell the police, and he even went to jail and served time for rape. However, now that he is out, he’s a thorn in the woman’s side, and won visitation rights.

There is something frightening about having one’s rapist being allowed close proximity of his victim by picking up and dropping off their child and actually having visitation rights. So I can understand the above quote…/QUOTE

That is terrible. What law would give such rights? Its adding insult to injury, rewarding an evil deed and so wrong in so many ways.

 

[Christian4life]

Rence;8154329:

But you know what? I do know a rape victim who decided to keep her child, and she is having no end of trouble with the rapist and his “rights” to have visitation. She did tell the police, and he even went to jail and served time for rape. However, now that he is out, he’s a thorn in the woman’s side, and won visitation rights.

There is something frightening about having one’s rapist being allowed close proximity of his victim by picking up and dropping off their child and actually having visitation rights. So I can understand the above quote…

There are states which do not permit rapists to have any parental rights whatsoever, even if the mother wants them to. Sounds like she needs to move!

 

[Christian4life]

Mercifully, it is very rare to get pregnant from rape. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen but it is rare. Even though few rapists use birth control they are less likely than consensual sex to result in pregnancy, somewhere around 1/3rd as likely, that is what I read, and I would guess that has to do with the distress the victim is in.

But if it did happen, I agree that child isn’t responsible for it’s father’s actions. Just think if she is a girl child and raised by that father she might well have become another of his victims too. You just have to try to make yourself not think of it has the rapist’s child because most likely he will never raise or have anything to do with the child anyway, and because every child no matter the circumstances of their conception or birth, is still a child of God and worthy in His sight.

I’m shocked someone said there was a case where a rapist had rights to the custody. That is not the law where I live - here a rapist has NO rights to his child and it is the same in many other states. We should be highly encouraging lawmakers to make this a national law and not using abortion or contraception as fallback to deal with a law which should never have existed. A child of rape belongs only to God and it’s mother. Though if I were in that situation I would not rule out adoption it would just depend how well I was able to deal emotionally with the whole thing.