Posted on 05/01/2005 7:21:19 AM PDT by madprof98
America's division over abortion deepened further yesterday after a Florida court prevented a 13-year-old girl in a care home from terminating her pregnancy. The girl, known as LG, has made it clear she wants an abortion to which she would appear legally entitled, but has had her wishes blocked by state officials who argue she lacks the maturity to make a decision.
The case pits civil liberties groups against the religious right in clear echoes of the case of Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged woman whose feeding tube was removed only after a ferocious legal battle.
LG is known to be more than 13 weeks pregnant, meaning that anti-abortion groups know how long they need to force a delay before a termination becomes difficult.
James Green, of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said: 'This child has made a clear choice; she has expressed it to the judge. There is no indication she is incompetent. We believe this is wrong as a matter of constitutional law and as a matter of good guardianship.'
The girl was due to have an abortion next Tuesday until Florida's Department of Children and Families, the agency responsible for her care, obtained an injunction.
LG has run away from state homes on several occasions, at one point going missing for more than a month, during which time it is understood she became pregnant.
The judge who granted the injunction is furious that the DCF didn't even alert the police that the girl was missing.
Judge Ronald Alvarez said: 'To say I am angry is an understatement.'
LG was taken away from her parents four years ago. Although psychologists have already agreed that the girl does not have any mental problems, the court has ordered another evaluation.
A spokesman for Florida Right to Life said: 'There is a rush to abort. To get rid of the evidence. Who impregnated her? You do not consent to sex at the age of 13.'
The Bush administration, which owes much of its electoral support to religious groups that find abortion abhorrent, described the situation as 'tragic' but believes Florida officials are acting in the girl's best interests. Lawyers acting on the girl's behalf have filed an appeal to let the abortion proceed.
Richard Wexler of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform said: 'I hope they move very, very quickly because every day is another day of emotional torment for this child and every day the pregnancy continues, it becomes more dangerous.'
Abortion is probably the most politically explosive issue in America. This week alone there were at least two separate rows over the display of anti-abortion messages, with each side accusing the other of hate speech.
On Tuesday, a teenage girl wearing a T-shirt that featured a picture of a foetus' head above the words 'abortion kills kids' was sent home from her school in Tennessee.
The American Life League gave away 15,000 of the T-shirts to be worn last Tuesday, supposedly National Pro-Life day.
Pro-life organisations say they encourage children to get actively involved in the issue because they are "survivors of the abortion holocaust".
Meanwhile, the ACLU sued the state of Ohio for issuing car licence plates reading 'choose life'. It claims this is discrimination because there are no pro-choice plates.
Heartbeat, brain waves. Show the kid a sonogram.
Ping for what will doubtless be a brief and passing moment of sanity in Florida.
And a class example of heavily biased "reporting."
Dan
She can legally murder her own child, but can't legally hold a job or have a beer.
Alice in America, 2005
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What would we do without the ACLU? Good grief.
class = classic
You can't on the one hand say a girl of 13 isn't capable of making a choice to have sex yet at the same time allowing them to make life and death decisions.
>ACLU, said: 'This child has made a clear choice<
Hey idiot, 13 is NOT the age of majority in ANY state!
And by the way, who is being prosecuted for statutory rape?
---You can't on the one hand say a girl of 13 isn't capable of making a choice to have sex yet at the same time allowing them to make life and death decisions. ---
So the courts will have to strike down the age of consent statutes in order to preserve the sacred right to have an abortion. :^O
Odd, because that plate IS pro-choice, it's encouraging one of the many choices available. The ACLU should have one that reads "Choose Death" if they want equal time. I know Judge Greer in Florida would buy one.
Let them have their own license plate - "I support killing babies". Don't think they'd have too many takers.
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You're right.
Doh, of course... boy how'd I miss that one!?
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Exactly. The "pro-choice" crowd strongly believes in euphemisms. It's the only way they can survive.
Like this?
The case pits civil liberties groups against the religious right
How about The case pits culture of death groups against the constitutional right to life?
OR
The case pits the darkest elements of our society against sanity itself.
Last time i checked there needs to be a sperm donor. And can we rule out the possibility that she was artificialy inseminated? Good.
So who and where is the SD???
And doesn't this "Dad" have a say in this urgent decision?
Is he a member of the DCF faculty??
Not only does a minor have a right to choose, it is against Florida common law, made at the highest level, to even require court permission for a minor to obtain an abortion. Further, it is against Florida common law to require a doctor to advise a parent of a minor's decision to have an abortion.
...T-shirts to be worn last Tuesday, supposedly National Pro-Life day
Dan
If that's true, will you people support this activist judge
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