Could the Anti-Abortion Industry Ever Forgive the Women Who Had Them

An almost poignant essay by a woman who had an abortion decades ago was published in Christian Post today. The woman heads an organization which wants the entire anti-abortion establishment to stop demonizing all women who have had them.

The link author believes abortion is murder and wants to work to abolish it. But, she continually runs into what she calls the "abolitionist" branch of anti-abortion. She thinks this branch, which I am certain represents the majority of people who make a living in anti-abortion, drives away women who have had abortions, but who regret it and want acceptance inside the anti-abortion establishment. By rejecting these women, she writes, the "movement" misses those who would help it.

The link author says she should be cut some slack by anti-abortion because she had been forgiven by God for her sin. Further, she claims, she was "misled" by those providing the abortion and by the man involved. In the comments following her essay many in anti-abortion demonized her in spite of the case she made about the circumstances. 

The link author deserves credit for admitting there will never be a law that prohibits all abortion in the U.S. But she continues to blame abortion providers for abortions. Providers merely perform the abortions women ask and pay for. There would be no abortions if women did not ask for them. 

Prior to Roe making abortions legal and in the early years after Roe made then legal, the Catholic hierarchy was the primary source of opposition. It stated abortions were caused by "the abortion industry." Various statements admonished anti-abortion operatives not to blame women. This dishonest trick, not blaming women when only women are to blame, worked until a bitter aggressive faction came to the front line. It blamed women.

Blaming women has had exactly the outcome the link author warned. A large percentage of women vote for abortion rights when the have the chance. Women are leaving churches which carry on against abortion. 

Anti-abortion faces a dilemma. Those who need abortion available, women and men, are too large a voting block to overcome. Anti-abortion would help itself be being truthful. Its position should be, "Abortion is a religious issue. Our religion preaches it is a sin. Women, however, find themselves in circumstances where abortion is their best option. We respect them if this is their choice."