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Laws Needed to Protect Teens From Adults Forcing Abortions
Life News ^ | 2/21/13 | William Saunders and Mary Novick

Posted on 02/24/2013 2:17:38 AM PST by kathsua

A brave 16-year-old girl, who is 10-weeks pregnant, won a case in Texas Family Court recently, which protects her from being forced by her parents to get an abortion. Her name has not been revealed because she is a minor.

When this girl’s parents found out she was pregnant, they took measures to make her life miserable unless she agreed to have the abortion. They took away her phone and her car; they took her out of school; they forced her to get two jobs. The parents subjected the girl to verbal and physical threats; her mother even spoke of slipping her an abortion drug without her knowledge.

It is tragic to think that this girl’s parents—the very people that she should have been able to lean on during this trying time—are the same people that are trying to force her, against her will, to get an abortion. Thankfully, her parents were not successful, because she was tenacious and fought for the right to have her baby.

The girl got legal assistance from the Texas Center for Defense of Life. On Monday, the court granted an injunction against the parents, allowing the girl to use her car to go to school, work, and medical appointments, and requiring her parents to help cover her medical expenses (unless she gets married before the baby is born).

This tragic story had a happy ending, but it highlights the necessity for anti-coercion legislation in the states. While lawsuits between parents and children are uncommon, coercion against pregnant girls aimed at forcing them to get an abortion is not uncommon; indeed, pregnant girls are often subjected to coercion.

Currently, at least fifteen states have some form of coercive abuse prevention laws, with varying definitions and degrees of protection.[i] Texas is one of these states, as part of the Texas informed consent statute—a woman must certify that she has not been coerced into having an abortion.

However, there are still 35 states with no protection for girls or women who might be bullied into an abortion. That is why Americans United for Life has put together model legislation to combat forced abortion—the Coercive Abuse Against Mothers Protection Act.

AUL’s model legislation makes it illegal to force a woman to have an abortion. It allows women who are victims of forced abortion to sue for damages and for the wrongful death of the aborted child. It also requires that facilities that provide abortions post a sign and orally inform a pregnant girl (or woman) that no one can force her to have an abortion. It requires that abortion providers report every instance of alleged or suspected coercion to the authorities.

It is important to support women like this brave 16 year old girl in Texas, and other women who are being coerced into abortion, by passing tough anti-coercion legislation. No woman should be forced to undergo an abortion.


TOPICS: Activism; Current Events; Moral Issues; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: abortion; childabuse; deathpanels; moralabsolutes; obamacare; prolife; teenrights; zerocare
What hateful parents. The parents I have been acquainted with who were in that situation accepted their daughters and welcomed their new grandkids. These loving parents recognized that young women can make mistakes in a society that encourages sexual activity.
1 posted on 02/24/2013 2:17:52 AM PST by kathsua
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To: kathsua

Some grandparents—it’s never the baby’s fault and they know it.


2 posted on 02/24/2013 2:42:07 AM PST by skr (May God confound the enemy)
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To: skr

Like we weren’t dabbling and petting back then...pfttt

At 16 every guy in history since the beginning of time has had sex on the brain; it’s just now the Internet has exposed both males and females to it which is like pouring gasoline on a fire so instead of just the guys pursuing the gals you have both doing it. They’re not even thinking about the reality of a baby entering the picture. If the schools and the government would get out of our life and let us teach them morals and biblical principles you might see teen pregnancy reduce significantly especially if you put a porn filter on the computer. I think they understand we’re looking out for their best interests later.


3 posted on 02/24/2013 3:32:33 AM PST by jsanders2001
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To: kathsua

I’m not sure if it’s the parents hate or concern about their life style. We know too many people who as they are about to retire find themselves raising their grandchildren while their children become worthless slobs. What they should be addressing is whether to raise this child or give it up for adoption. This is the decision they all need to make. Having a baby is a 9 month affair. Raising a child is an eighteen year endeavor.


4 posted on 02/24/2013 3:58:52 AM PST by HarleyD
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To: HarleyD
This is an issue that has not received the attention it deserves. Parents may just want the problem to go away without stopping to think of the mental trauma it will cause for a lifetime for the girl. Much more attention must be focused on the mental well-being of the young girl. It is only nine months after all. After that, if need be, the infant can be placed in an adoption setting. It is much better, every which way, for a young mother to know her child is living and being cared for than for her to have allowed the killing of her own flesh and blood.
5 posted on 02/24/2013 5:06:37 AM PST by iontheball
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To: kathsua

It’s a shame the life is looked upon so poorly by these parents of this 16 yr old girl. Yes, it would have been better if morals and values could be taught at multiple venues - where teen pregnancy would be lowered. Consequences by today’s youth is a word foreign to them.

Glad she made out alright - I hope she gets back into school - finishes her education and can provide for this child.

I strongly suggest adoption. I have 2 children that were adopted - my only 2 - and I suggest to others that if you have the means to do it...it’s no more of a struggle than being a regular parent - and in some ways easier and the kids are grateful once you can get them over the harm of abandonment....


6 posted on 02/24/2013 5:12:26 AM PST by BCW (http://babylonscovertwar.com/index.html)
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To: kathsua

There is a serious problem, here, in the other direction.

That is, when she has her baby, her parents are in effect its legal guardian, since she can’t be, as a minor. Minor children are in effect chattels of their parent. The parents are thus obligated for all its medical expenses, even if they are extraordinary.

Their only alternative would be to legally emancipate her, to renounce their legal responsibilities over her and her child. And they could not support her and her child once they were legally emancipated either, because that “establishes dependency”, and could result in them having to pay the equivalent of child support until their daughter’s child is 18 years old.

This can get really ugly in a hurry. Depending on her parents finances, typically she would end up in a trailer, alone with her baby and on welfare. It would be very easy for the state to determine she was not a fit parent and take her child away.

Her child’s life will likely be crap as well. And while this still doesn’t justify abortion, it most certainly justifies parents putting the fear of God into their children about keeping their legs together until they can get married and have a good job.

The girls future is really fouled up.


7 posted on 02/24/2013 6:18:05 AM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy (Best WoT news at rantburg.com)
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To: kathsua

It’ll be interesting to see if the left fights these laws.


8 posted on 02/24/2013 6:22:09 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: kathsua

sounds like a muslim family....


9 posted on 02/24/2013 9:45:52 AM PST by goat granny
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To: goat granny
sounds like a muslim family....

I doubt that. In fact, I'd bet money that the girl is white --and the baby's daddy isn't.

10 posted on 02/24/2013 1:17:12 PM PST by Drew68
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

Part of the pressure they applied was to take away her car, so I doubt they are paupers. They’re probably snobs who are worried about what they consider the scandal of the daughter’s pregnancy.


11 posted on 02/27/2013 11:43:35 AM PST by kathsua (A woman can do anything a man can do and have babies besides.)
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To: jsanders2001

Parents need to make it clear to their kids that they are old enough for sex when they can support themselves financially and move out of the house.


12 posted on 02/27/2013 11:50:05 AM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: kathsua; Morgana

The scandal is that their minor daughter wasn’t taught better than being a slut


13 posted on 02/27/2013 11:53:40 AM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: iontheball; 185JHP; 230FMJ; AKA Elena; APatientMan; Albion Wilde; Aleighanne; Alexander Rubin; ...
Moral Absolutes Ping!

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Please read iontheball's comments - exactly what I would say.

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14 posted on 02/27/2013 7:57:21 PM PST by little jeremiah (Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. CSLewis)
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To: iontheball; 185JHP; 230FMJ; AKA Elena; APatientMan; Albion Wilde; Aleighanne; Alexander Rubin; ...
Moral Absolutes Ping!

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Please read iontheball's comments - exactly what I would say.

ANyone wanting on/off either ping list, freepmail me.

15 posted on 02/27/2013 7:58:07 PM PST by little jeremiah (Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. CSLewis)
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