Posted on 02/28/2006 6:36:43 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
US President George W. Bush signalled his opposition to a South Dakota abortion ban that forbids the procedure even in cases of rape or incest, saying he favors such exceptions.
But Bush declined to predict the outcome of any legal challenges to the legislation, which would make it illegal to terminate a pregnancy except in rare cases when it may be necessary to save the life of the mother.
"That, of course, is a state law, but my position has always been three exceptions: Rape, incest, and the life of the mother," the US president told ABC news in an interview.
Asked whether he would include "health" of the mother, Bush replied: "I said life of the mother, and health is a very vague term, but my position has been clear on that ever since I started running for office."
The bill, which recently gained final approval from South Dakota's House of Representatives, directly contradicts the precedent set in 1973 when the US Supreme Court ruled that bans on abortion violate a woman's constitutional right to privacy.
The bill grants no allowances for women who have been raped or are victims of incest. Doctors who perform abortion would be charged with a crime. It also prohibits the sale of emergency contraception and asserts that life begins at fertilization.
The governor of South Dakota has indicated he is likely to sign the bill.
A leading pro-choice advocacy group has already vowed to challenge the ban in federal court. But that seems to be exactly what many promoters of the legislation seek.
Advocates of the ban do not deny they aim much higher than South Dakota, a rural and socially conservative state, which even today has only one abortion clinic.
Instead, they are hoping the bill will offer a full frontal assault on legal abortions now that the balance of power in the Supreme Court appears to have shifted with the confirmation of conservative jurists John Roberts and Samuel Alito, both of whom are seen as pro-life.
ping
I wonder what the baby thinks about all this?
I hear you, Hildy, and all of you whom I have pinged, speaking from compassion for the woman. I would like to share with you my position that what you advocate is not actually compassionate.
To encourage or even allow a woman to murder her own unborn child is what is supremely incredibly wrong. She will live with that decision forever. Where do people get the idea that abortion heals rape's wounds? Or could in any way contribute to healing? That the murder of her own innocent baby (with 23 of her chromosomes from her own egg and in her own body) somehow atones for the injustice of the original crime? That killing the offspring of this unwanted union will somehow ease the pain and suffering for the woman? That the baby growing in the woman's womb is merely the rapist's offspring and no relation to the victim of the rape?
Of course rape is hard. Of course knowing that your child is also the child of your rapist is hard. Of course carrying that child for 9 months is hard--whether to parenting or adoption. I tell you that abortion is an added crime to the woman who was raped, and once chosen becomes a new memory she will have to try to live with all her days, and must account for in eternity.
There is a way through and Beyond the Crisis that is better than the choice of death for the innocent.
President Bush's statement appalls me. To say that the murder of an innocent baby in the womb is wrong, except when it is right, is utter insanity.
Hundreds of doctors hold the position that the Life of the Mother exception ought not even be termed abortion as abortion is the intentional harm to life: "A physician must do everything possible to save the lives of both of his patients, mother and child. He must never intend the death of either."
To imply that having an abortion is in any way good or beneficial for the mother of that child conceived by rape is opposed to factual evidence.
I speak to you as a woman who has experienced both rape and abortion. I have completely healed from the rape; I carry no lingering scars either physical or emotional. It did take time and the grace of God. I have not completely healed from the abortion, either physically (I am barren now as a result) or emotionally (I miss my dead child). Both time and the grace of God are on my side toward healing, and yet the emotional pain and very real physical consequences of my decision to abort my child remain.
Less than half. The balance carry the baby to term. In one study of 37 rape pregnancies, 28 carried to term. S. Makhorn, in Psychological Aspects of Abortion, Mall & Watts, Univ. Pub. 1979, Pg. 58
Thank you so much for posting this information and link. Obviously, the women that choose life for their babies conceieved by rape find a way to through the suffering!
Hi Kenth. I have something to contribute to this thread and your post seemed to be a good place to do so. :)
I will write from the point of view of a woman who has always been anti-abortion (though thought that there should be exceptions) and had to deal with the situation personally.
I've been married for over 20 years - to the same man. At one point in our marriage, we separated for a couple years due to immaturity and assorted stupidity. Luckily we grew up! We were getting to a point where getting back together was likely and then something happened that had a major impact on us both as well as our 3 children. I was raped and became pregnant.
As I said, I have always been anti-abortion. From a young age, it was a given that killing a baby was wrong. God forgive me, but I seriously considered having an abortion for about 3 days after getting a positive on that pregnancy test. I decided against that, and thought about giving the baby up for adoption. Somewhere in there, I talked to my mother-in-law and husband about what had happened, not sure how far along i was at that point. (neither of them were even in the same state as I was at the time) I think about 5 months. By the time I was 8 months, I had decided to keep the baby thanks to my husband telling me that whichever decision I made, he would be okay with it. He had massive guilt and couldn't see telling me which decision to make.
Anyway, that child is loved by both of his parents (my husband and I) and all of his siblings (we have 7 living children and have lost 8) I cannot see telling another woman that she HAS to bear a child conceived from rape but I would not take her to a clinic or otherwise condone or suggest it to her. It is murdering an innocent little one no matter how you look at it. Yes, it was hard mentally and emotionally to go through pregnancy, and I had more than a few times where i thought I had made the wrong decision when I looked at that baby and saw features that reminded me of the rapist. But the healing that our whole family has gone through, the strength of the marriage bond and parental bonds.. We are made stronger by that which doesn't kill us.
Maybe if the event had been more physically violent, I would have made a different decision, I don't know. The fact that I even thought about abortion at all startled me and scared me. I'm glad I didn't make that choice, I would have missed out on a very funny and loving child whose conception helped bring my family together stronger than before. We may be poor financially speaking, but we have riches beyond belief when it comes to what's really important.
Anyway, that's my story and I don't know if it was even something I needed to post.
sorry for poor formatting
I praise God for all the healing and reconciliation that has come to you through your very painful trials.
I am upset deeply.
Thank you, it is definitely thanks to Him that I'm where I am today. For a long time I had revenge on my mind. Now, I have pity and disgust at the person who did it. I hope someday he finds forgiveness and grace.
I tried to respond to your post - I typed out 2 different things and then just closed the browser without posting. I don't know what to say other than I am so sorry you went through what you did and ended up with permanent troubles because of it. Would it help if I said that by getting the information and your story out in public, you may be saving other women from ending up in your situation and you just may save a baby's life if the mother is reading FR tonight? I hope that the resources you put in your post will help other people understand.
I think you are very brave for telling your story on here, it's such a volatile subject. His grace be with you as you continue your journey. It's good to know we always have one friend even when it seems the rest of the world is turned against us.
The President ran on certain things. Whether of not you agree with them is up to you.
So if a man doesn't consent to the creation of his child, he can absolve himself of all responsibility?
First, outlaw the practice. Then, prosecute the criminals. However, it's best to strike at the weakest link first, and that's the abortionist.
And to kill a baby simply because she was conceived by a rape is incredibly right?
You've been here since 98 and you are surprised that there are FReepers upset that a president we helped get elected is now voicing opposition to a state's abortion ban?
So the child should be killed? Whatever happened to adoption?
No, I had no idea that SD had high out-of-wedlock births, no idea. Do you have a listing on that topic. I would have thought that DC or MS led in out-of-wedlock births, with CA close behind.
The victims want to have the child, and it's usually their only way out of the situation.
Huh?!
The president has been consistent that he approves the exceptions for abortion. He is NOT voicing opposition to a state's abortion ban. LOL
Reading comprehension is a good thing; try it some time.
I agree, the child can be given up for adoption.
Given that it would be EXTREMELY rare that someone got pregnant through rape or incest, I think this exception should exist. As you say, it would be cruel to make someone carry a child under this circumstance. The mental image is horrible even to me as I sit here.
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