The Elephant in the Living Room: The New Zealand Abortion Study

Professor David Fergusson, director of the Christchurch Health and Development Study in New Zealand, is firmly pro-choice. But I suspect the good professor might understand if I point out that, lately, he’s been getting a little taste of what it’s like to be pro-life.

Fergusson and two colleagues, L. John Horwood and Elizabeth Ridder, conducted a study on abortion and mental health. And they didn’t find what they expected to find. Their report states, “Those having an abortion [under age 25] had elevated rates of subsequent mental health problems including depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviours and substance use disorders.” Their report goes on to say, “The findings suggest that abortion in young women may be associated with increased risks of mental health problems.”

Talk about irony. We’re used to hearing about the “mental health” aspects of abortion, of course—but usually, we’re being told that a woman’s mental health is in danger if she doesn’t have an abortion. At the very least, this new study forces pro-choicers to question the all-too-common assumption, an assumption that now is putting young women in danger.

Not that most pro-choicers want to hear this, of course—and particularly not now, with the Supreme Court just having agreed to hear an appeal of the partial-birth abortion ban case, where the issue turns on exceptions about the mother’s health. This is why I said that Dr. Fergusson is learning something about what it’s like to be pro-life. This well-regarded researcher and his team normally have no trouble at all getting their work published. But in this case they had to go to four different journals before they could find one that would publish their study. Fergusson has told interviewers that he knows it’s because his findings are too “controversial”—so controversial that New Zealand’s Abortion Supervisory Committee warned him against publishing his work, not for scientific reasons, but for political ones.

Well, Fergusson himself dislikes the idea that pro-lifers will use his work, and he knows that his research could have a devastating effect on the abortion movement in his country. In New Zealand, as the Herald explained, “Every abortion requires two ‘certifying consultants’ to approve it on certain grounds, usually that a woman’s mental health would be [otherwise] endangered.” You can see what the implications would be if the greater “mental health” risk turns out to be having the abortion.

My hat is off to Dr. Fergusson. Despite the controversy, and despite the fact that his results disagreed with his own beliefs, Fergusson was determined to publish them anyway. And he told the Herald, “It verges on scandalous that a surgical procedure that is performed on over one in 10 women has been so poorly researched and evaluated, given the debates about the psychological consequences of abortion.”

That, my friends, is a true professional and a true scientist speaking. It’s people like this who give science a good name. He’s not willing to ignore the elephant in the middle of the room just because no one else wants to talk about it. Instead, he insists on getting the truth out in the open. And that’s what science ought to be all about—not just in New Zealand, but here.

Fergusson has told interviewers that he knows it’s because his findings are too “controversial”—so controversial that New Zealand’s Abortion Supervisory Committee warned him against publishing his work, not for scientific reasons, but for political ones.

In other words, they can't handle the truth. But don't forget, they're so intellectually superior to we emotion-driven, religious fanatic pro-lifers.

There are links to further information at the source document.

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Having an abortion as a consequence of sexual gratification means that a woman ultimately has to not only come to accept that she has murdered her child for pure physical gratification but then she must accept that the only way to find peace (clear conscience) is to find divine and personal forgiveness for the act.

Very tall order!

But one than can and is being done daily. I am the representative of my church for CareNet. CareNet provides information to young women and men who are faced with an unwanted pregnancy. They offer ultrasound services so the parents can see exactly what is going on inside the womb. That the child is not just a lump of tissue, but it has movement and life. This past year, 80 children were born in our county that would have ended up in an abortionists trash heap had it not been for the counselling they received. The women are also provided with health care options. they are told about hopw important it is to get regular checkups throughout the pregancy. They can get diapers, formula and clothing for their newborns as well.

There is also counselling given to women who have gone through and abortion and who are suffering mentally and spiritually because of it. It is estimated that nearly half of the women in the US have had an abortion. (I think the number is 2 out of 5....and growing daily) This issue is huge. And one that desparately needs to be addressed. CareNet is a Christian based organization that truly changes lives... by given sound information to parents who find themselves in an unwanted pregnancy.

The shame that surrounds an abortion can be devastating and crippling for the survivor parents. The guilt can be overwhelming...not just for the women but the fathers as well. CareNet provides counselling for post abortion men as well.

Many years ago, I too had an unwanted pregancy and chose to end it through abortion. I hid that bit of information for many years...from my friends and family. The shame was unbearable. I also hid it from myself. I chose to tuck it deep within me and I ended up suicidal and depressed. I started drinking.

Through all the pain I eventually was found by my Savior....drunk and broken...sitting in a lump on my kitchen floor. He came to me that night and poured love all over me. I was overwhelmed by a God who came into my pit ...the stinking stench of my life to find me and to lift me up. I grew up in a church that taught me that I must be clean before I can approach God. But Jesus came to me just as I was....a sinner... and He redeemed me by His grace and not by my works.

It wasn't until years later that I became involved in the CareNet organization. I recieved counselling for post abortion stress....and found out that Jesus even forgives abortion. He is in the forgiving business and loves to redeem those who appear to be wholly unredeemable and who are shunned and judged by some of his so called flock.

I can testify to what He has done in my life. It IS a tall order, but not an impossible one. He can change you and He can restore you. He is using my life to help those who may want to follow in my footsteps. I am able to testify to others the devastating effect abortion has on the life of the abortive mother. It may seem like a quick fix....but it has life long consequences.

“It verges on scandalous that a surgical procedure that is performed on over one in 10 women has been so poorly researched and evaluated, given the debates about the psychological consequences of abortion.” But But But ... the abortion worshipping NARAL and democrap party tells us even the partial birth execution ban must have an exception for a woman's 'health'! It becomes more and more obvious that the real agenda is to protect the rite of child killing as an empowerment for women and selfish men, twisted women and twisted men (and just using 'men' in this sentence seems anathema because killing your own children doesn't fit my paradigm of 'modern man'; but the 'right' to kill your alive unborn child IS part of the 'modern woman' paradigm of leftist societal engineers).

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