El Salvador, a Country That Outlaws Abortion
I have said here countless times a no-abortion U.S. is unworkable. It is unworkable because of miscarriages and how a no-abortion law affects women who have them. When a pregnant woman is no longer pregnant, claims to have had a miscarriage and law enforcement learns about it, how will officials know for certain it was not an illegal abortion, i.e. a murder?
There are various countries which have or have tried to function under no abortion laws. Some have changed back to allow abortions. Others do a wink-wink, yes it's against the law but we're busy with other things. Or, bribe money changes hands. Or, women with money get undercover abortions, those without money or are in rural areas do not.
There is one country with a no-abortion law that devotes law enforcement dollars to enforce it. That country is in Central America, El Salvador. What happens in El Salvador when a woman known by medical personnel to be pregnant shows up not pregnant?
The answer is precisely what would happen in the U.S. The doctor or health care worker report the lost pregnancy to law enforcement. Law enforcement does an investigation, homes are entered for searches. There are women who testify they had miscarriages sitting in jail. Girls and woman who insisted they had miscarriages have been convicted of having self administered abortions and are serving sentences of between two to eight years in prison. Sometimes the charge is "aggravated assault" which carries sentences up to 50 years. Does anyone think that will not happen in the U.S.? You have to be living in a dream world if you think anti abortion laws will not imprison women who actually had miscarriages.
Today I read one article about a prominent Catholic Bishop who laments the weakening of resolve in the Church about abortion. There was a similar one about a Protestant campaign against abortion. Neither of them, I repeat neither, said even ONE word about differentiating miscarriages from abortions in a no-abortion country. Both of these articles were written by men. Neither discussed sisters, wives or their own daughters going to jail. They could have said, "I know it's possible my own sister, wife or daughter might be mistakenly sent to jail over a miscarriage but that's a fair price to pay for a law prohibiting abortions."
It's time to discuss how pregnant women will be treated in a no-abortion U.S.
Jon,
ReplyDeleteIt is quite easy to find discussion contrasting the Pro-Life and Anti-Abortion terms.
In general Pro-Life is associated with “upholding the dignity of all lives: the unborn, the disabled, the poor and the vulnerable” but usually avoids support for non-conservative policies like “climate justice”, universal healthcare, higher minimum wage and open borders.
The Anti-Abortion term seems somewhat limited to the vehement singular protection of the unborn. Some of the Anti-Abortion people may favor some of the following: the death penalty, locking up women who have had abortions, euthanasia, assisted suicide or perhaps even universal healthcare, higher minimum wage and open borders. I would venture a guess that the country of El Salvador would be classified radically Anti-Abortion and not nearly Pro-Life. Hopefully that type of strident policy does not make its way through the courts in America. Of course that depends a great deal on who is running the show at the top and how many state capitols become church-like in their conduct.
The Pro-Life commentary celebrates the proliferation of “Pro-Life Centers” whose mission is to discourage abortion by assisting pregnant women with pre-natal care and post-delivery support. On the other hand women that abort a fetus either spontaneously or by choice must experience a physical and psychological impact due in part to hormonal and biochemical changes. I suspect they too often need support. Towards the Pro-life claim to uphold the dignity of the vulnerable and to celebrate Christianity at its best, wouldn’t it be extraordinary for Pro-Life centers to extend a voluntary non-judgmental helping hand to women who need support after an abortion. Too extraordinary? Too non-conservative? Too Pro-Choice?
Jon, do you know if this type of support has ever been or is being offered by Pro-Life organizations?
well, I'll be damned. a sure thing: old Arby has consigned me to hell because I post "hostile" comments regarding his take on things: political, theological, moral and so forth. that said, I look forward to meeting him in hell so that we can continue our discussion. for now, however, it seems that one cannot be called pro-life unless one signs on to the entirety of his leftist agenda (climate change and the works). arrogance any one? but apart from the sheer presumption involved what about the logic? Arby and his friend Jon seem determined to demean the pro-life movement by mixing apples, oranges and lettuce in one big logical fruit pie. we have, however, been through that before. so no further comment: if you haven't gotten the point already, you never will. the sentence about locking up women after abortions really mystified me: are we accused of locking up women after euthanasia and assisted suicide or what? or are pro-lifers accused of being pro-euthanasia? as to helping pro-abortive women, I doubt that any such would seek help from a pro-life clinic. but if any did, I don't think that they would be turned away. BTW does Planned Parenthood provide assistance to post-abortive women? with that I rest my case.
Deletetsm @ 3:43 PM, “Arby”.
DeleteArby makes hamburgers.
So tsm please offer up your understanding of the meaning of the terms Pro-Life vs Anti-Abortion. Google “pro-life vs anti-abortion” why don’t you. Lots of good Catholic discussion there.
Of course Pro-Life people are against abortion but some people who claim the moniker anti-abortion support capital punishment, assisted suicide, etc. The Pro-Life movement as I understand it would not lend support to those activities. Also the Pro-Life movement does not typically include support for non-conservative policies like “climate justice”, universal healthcare, higher minimum wage and open borders. Even though those policies may be life sustaining, they are a bridge too far. That’s fine with me.
My final comment concerning Pro-Life Centers potentially extending a voluntary non-judgmental helping hand to women who need support after an abortion is sincere but definitely not likely to occur. Extending their mission that far is, well, too pro-life.
Ardy B "Jon, do you know if thus type of support has been or is being offered by Pro-Life organizations."
ReplyDeleteI my knowledge, most large organization opposes any government assistance to pregnant women. They claim they pray for them.
That said, a book about abortion, "Her Body, Own Laws," included a section on institutions for unwed mothers sponsored by anti abortion groups. The author found good care for such women and support sometimes not approved of by the anti abortion organizations sponsoring them. The women who work in these facilities relate much more to the women as individuals and what they need.