Lawrence Lader, Champion of Abortion Rights, Is Dead at 86

NYT ^ | 5/10/06

[Bronzy]

I can only confess that he influenced me. Please do not ask about my......

[NewLand]

The father of the movement now has to answer to this

[NewLand]

You mean MILLIONS.

Estimated over 40 million since 1973.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Closer to 50, if you want to get technical. :-(

[T'wit]

That's a vivid story! It is ironic that murderers sentenced to death have time to repent but very often their victims do not. The law simply must be designed to deter as many murders as possible, and that requires capital punishment.

[DesScorp]

"I agree, as Christians we should hope that he repented"

You can hope, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[JoeFromSidney]

In truth this is probably the only really rational argument against the death penalty is that we must recognize even the Lawrence Laders of this world as God's beloved children, that God created him to know Him, love Him and serve Him in this world and to be happy forever with Him in the next but that God is just as well as merciful and that execution removes from the guilty some opportunity for repentance, penance and reconciliation with a heavenly Father always willing to forgive.

One could equally well argue the other way, that certainty of execution by a particular date would confront the criminal on Death Row with the issue of repentance more strongly than would a sentence of "life," which is indefinite in length. As Samuel Johnson said, "Knowing that one is to be hanged in a fortnight concentrates the mind wonderfully."

[muawiyah]

The statistics concerning convicted murderers are grim. There's a very high probability that such a person will kill again ~ either a white collar criminal jailed with them, or a guard, or a visitor, or someone else if they are released.

When the law elects to allow a murderer to live, or a jury votes to let one live, the law has simply elected someone else to die in the murderer's place.

I'm not sure that is a just outcome.

[reagandemo]

He better pray that he gets there an hour before the Devil finds out. Lawrence meet Satin, Satin meet Lawrence.

[Scarchin]

Satin?

[Robert A Cook PE]

He will now find himself before a different Judge.

[reagandemo]

OOPPS! spelling Satin = Satan.

[T'wit]

I think we both did argue the other way. See 40 and 45.

I myself am more concerned with matters that the law can address in the here and now. Specifically -- reducing murders and other crimes to a minimum. The way to do that is speedy trial, sure-handed justice and swift punishment. I suppose that's hopelessly idealistic while we have living lawyers :-)

[linda_22003]

If he's meeting Satin, he'll be spending eternity in a very soft place. ;)

[drama queen]

Lawrence Lader figures prominently in Dr. Bernard Nathanson's book "Aborting America" (Doubleday - 1979). Nathanson was the co-director of NARAL, or the "National Association for Repeal of Abortion Laws", in the late '60s and says Lader was the force behind making opposition to abortion look like a strictly Catholic issue, or at least an issue dear to the Catholic hierarchy out of step with everyday parishioners. In the book Nathanson refers to him as a "virulent anti-Catholic bigot." The man was shystie and couldn't just make the case for abortion in an aboveboard way without resorting to religious prejudice.

[Old Professer]

Earlier reports that his mother was waiting with a pair of brandished scissors for his expected arrival were met with criticism by his remaining family members.