Catholic Exchange

Hypothesis vs. Reality

Written by

Ken Concannon

in

It has been my experience that supporters of legalized abortion tend to justify their position by citing the worst-case hypothetical situation that might happen if abortion were illegal.

Not long ago, I received an e-mail from a reader of an article I wrote for a secular newspaper who was profoundly unhappy with my pro-life stance. In his e-mail, the unhappy reader cited this hypothetical worst-case scenario:

"I have yet to hear what they (pro-lifers) would say to the 13-year-old victim of a brutal rape. How would they tell her that they are going to force her to carry that daily reminder to term? Would they, or you, strap her to a hospital bed to prevent any attempt at self-abortion or suicide? Would you pay the hospital bill?"

Wow! How do you respond to that? Well, oddly enough, the same day I got that e-mail, I received by regular mail a request for a donation from the Life Legal Defense Foundation. They needed donations to cover legal expenses emanating from a lawsuit filed against Planned Parenthood's southwest Ohio region by a young woman who was sexually molested by her father from the time she was 13 years old until she was 18 years old.

The suit alleges that when she was 16, her father brought her to Planned Parenthood's Auburn Avenue facility in Cincinnati for an abortion "in order to cover up the sexual abuse and resulting pregnancy." Planned Parenthood performed the abortion but failed to report the sexual abuse of the minor to the authorities, thus violating Ohio law and condemning the poor girl to another year and a half of abuse.

This is not an isolated incident. In February of this year, a Kansas pro-life group reported that a Kansas City abortionist failed to report the rape of an 11-year-old girl that resulted in her pregnancy. The abortionist performed an abortion on the girl and then returned her to the source of the pregnancy, her stepfather, who sexually abused the girl and her sister for several years.

In December 2005, after drawing unwanted attention from pro-life groups, Planned Parenthood's San Francisco office removed a letter from its Web site that purported to be from a former client thanking the organization for not telling her parents that she had been raped when she was 11 by her 17-year-old "boyfriend." Of course, Planned Parenthood also failed to inform the authorities of the rape — which raises the question, "Why did they post the letter?"

The Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the largest abortion provider in this country, prides itself on protecting the confidentiality of its clients, even children, their molesters and their rapist "boyfriends." Planned Parenthood's San Francisco affiliate used the letter as an endorsement, a tribute to the organization's zipped lips.

The people at Planned Parenthood, and most other abortion providers, apparently believe they are above the law. They know that as health care workers they are obliged to report suspected child abuse to the authorities. That includes not just forcible rape, but also statutory rape, generally defined as sexual activity between an adult and a minor. Each state in this country has an age below which minors cannot consent to sexual activity. The definition of "minor" ranges from 14 or under to 18 or under, depending on the state.

Abortion providers know this. But because so much of their business comes from pregnant teenagers and their adult boyfriends, they are inclined to ignore the law. In May 2002, the online magazine WorldNetDaily reported on the results of a nationwide study conducted by the pro-life research organization Life Dynamics. According to the article, Life Dynamics researchers found "irrefutable evidence" that abortion clinics run by Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers "knowingly conceal" the sexual abuse of minors "while aiding and abetting the sexual predators who commit them."

One of the Life Dynamics researchers posed as a 13-year-old impregnated by her 22-year-old boyfriend. The researcher called 800 abortion clinics across the country, explaining that she needed an abortion to conceal the illicit sexual relationship from her parents and the authorities. What she found was an abortion industry willing, and often eager, to hide her sexual exploitation from her parents and the authorities. According to the study report, the clinics "provided step-by-step instructions on how to circumvent state laws that were enacted specifically for the purpose of protecting children exactly like her (the 13-year-old caller) in situations just like this."
One more frightening statistic from Life Dynamics: "a junior high school girl is more likely to become pregnant by an adult than by someone close to her own age." Our children are at risk, not because of the hypothesis posed by my unhappy reader, but because they are being seduced into sexual relationships they can't handle, and the abortion industry is complicit and profiting from that seduction.

Comments

  1. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    I recently read that the rate of abortion is the same in countries where it's illegal as in countries where it's legal.  I question the validity of this, but even if it's true, it still doesn't justify legalizing abortion.  Should we make robbery and murder legal because they happen anyway? I don't think so.

  2. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    This sounds like the Propoganda (lies) tlhat NARAL spread before abortion was legal as reported by Bernard Nathanson M.D. after he realized that abortion is the taking of human life.  When it was illegal in this country the abortion rate was in the ten thousands not well over a million like it is now and has been sadly. Peace out

  3. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    The same people who condemned the Catholic Church and coined the term "Pedophile Priests" are looking the other way on the exploitation of little girls all in the name of abortion – what an evil Double Standard; and what compelling evidence to show how Satan is the father of abortion.

  4. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Ken,

    Please allow me to answer the question that you posed, but did not answer due to the path of your article. As a father of 7 children on this earth and a supporter of life, I am often inquired of about the situation you present. My answer too often was, "well there is a great question, did you take a long time to think that one up?!?", or I would inquire about the probability of such an occurence. Knowing how the human body functions and using the law of averages, it may just be about one in a billion, hypothetically speaking, of course.

    After realizing the inadequacies of these answers, I sought the Giver of Life for an answer. As it always is with Him, the answer was given and its simplicity was beautiful; love. I often tell my CCD students that more often than not if a question is asked in class the answer is going to be God. God is love. The answer to the question posed above is God. Pope Benedict defines this for us in his first encyclical, and his venerable predecessors, John Paul II and Paul VI, provided the living Church with inspired teachings in their writings, Evangelium Vitae and Humane Vitae, respectively, please allow me to provide an answer that may appeal to both the God-fearing and the secular humanist; not that the Holy Fathers didn't already do so.

    Rape is an act of violence. The act is in direct opposition to one of love. Society has placed norms on how one should feel when one is the victim of such a violent act. They are wide ranging and often confusing to the Christian way of life. Anger, vengeance and murder are the most common thoughts that pervades the wordly mindset. The actual feelings of the victim also vary, from those of fear, hurt, uncleanliness and even shame. Rape is a violation of the dignity of a human being and should under no circumstances be treated as anything other than that.

    Often times members of society desire to lay culpability at the feet of the victim based on preconceived notions of one's promiscuity or lack of modesty in dressing. This, of course, is never acceptable. That rape is considered in the light of so many different feelings and perceptions lends to the confusion. We must always define the evil and be truthful to its effect on society and the individuals involved personally.

    From every evil thing that man brings forth on himself, God will bring a greater good. For men who are raped, the time after needs to be spent in healing and understanding that in order to continue in a fruitful life there must be forgiveness. For women, the same standard applies. Michael, the archangel of the CE forums, signs off with the words, "the Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and left untried."

    For some women, however, God has provided an abundant amount of grace that some consider a burden too much to bear, a painful reminder of a violent episode; a child. An innocent human being who did not partake in the violence but is a result of God's plan for humanity. As John Paul II has so clearly indicated, we must not lose sight of the nature of that which grows in the womb. It is a new human being; one more soul that awaits a chance at breathing the air of a world often times filled with contempt for his existence.

    Considering that this new life will be the product of the love and nurturing that is provided in his life beginning at the time he enters this world until he leaves for the next, and the amount of smiles, hugs and affection that will be returned to the giver of this love, should we not contemplate how this child may replace the tears of hurt with tears of joy? Tears that may wash away our fear and anger and resentment. Consider also that [that] which grows in the womb is a human life and to end this innocent life forcibly is wrong and goes against any concept of love, thus placing the victim in a position of an assailant themself.

    For the secular humanist, can you not see that a child is the most precus gift that one can receive? Can you not see the unending fountain of love that can fill the void of the single act of violence? No, I do not wish rape on any one I know or love, nor do I wish it on my enemy. However, as individuals and an advanced itellectual society, we must see past the anger and revenge and focus on the good that may just be the answer to a cry for help. Because if we continue to disregard life, our most valuable resource, at any stage and under any circumstances, we will fall short of achieving our desired end; whether it be the ascent of man or the recognition of God and the love He has for all of us.

    In Christ,

    Remember, the Sun is always shining!

  5. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    http://www.christineschult.com

     

    Excellent article.

    I featured it on my blog.

     

    Christine

     

     

  6. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    In regards to the original hard question what scant research that has been done on the topic indicates that matters are more complex then the question implies.

     

     Things to consider, abortion is a further physical assult on the woman's body, this is not necessarily something that the woman will be able to handle.  A woman who is in normal circumstances is against abortion is unlikely to benefit from an exception in these cases, doing something you believe is wrong is unlikely to contribute to long term mental health.

     

    Sites which discuss this in more detail citing what little research has been done in this area are  http://www.afterabortion.info/rape.html and http://www.lifeissues.net/writers/air/air_vol2no1_1988.html#aer .

     

    Apparently many women do not choose abortions in these circumstance  and of those that do many do so because of a perceived lack of choice in the matter.

     

     

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