abortion, the church and the election part 2
This post is gonna be long, so it may turn into two. I have done the best I can to research the issues I am speaking too in this, but will be the first to admit that policy jargon is sometimes lost on me and I need interpreters. I have tried NOT to go to the traditional sources on to interpret policy for me (not The Right To Life Committee) and to look to more than one interpreter. Still, I'll try to add links, so check for yourself.
Let me begin by putting this issue in perspective. In America, there are over 1.2 million abortions in 2005. Thankfully that is down from the high of 1.6 million in 1990. Teenagers account for 21% of abortions and women in their twenties account for the majority of abortions. White women have more abortions that women of other races, however, black women and Hispanic women are much more likely to have an abortion (according to the percentages). 1% of abortions are due to rape, 6% for potential health concerns. That means 93% are for social/economic reasons. PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY: Women with family incomes less than $15,000 obtain 28.7% of all abortions; Women with family incomes between $15,000 and $29,999 obtain 19.5%; Women with family incomes between $30,000 and $59,999 obtain 38.0%; Women with family incomes over $60,000 obtain 13.8%. That means 51% of women having abortions come from families making at least $30,000 a year. That's 612,000 abortions. (stats come from The Alan Guttmacher Institute - not an antiabortion institute and from the Center for BioEthical Reform - an anti abortion group).
I'm going to ignore statistics about what term the abortion happens in because I don't think it matters. Is it better to end the life of a six month old child or a one year old? What difference would it make if we ended the life of a two week old child in the womb or a six month old child in the womb?
The most shocking statistic: since 1975 there have been more than 48.5 million unborn children terminated in the womb. The population of Spain is 46 million people.
Again, I know this isn't the only issue. Many would argue that the war in Iraq has been incredibly unjust and has resulted in more than 100,000 civilian victims. For the sake of the argument I'll agree (and in some measure, I do agree, but don't need to make a detailed argument here on Just War and if the Iraq War measures up). Since 2003, 100,000 civilian casualties plus 4,000 US military deaths. That is horrific. But I'm sure you see what I'm getting at - at least that many unborn children will be terminated this month.
Going back to the demographics, it is not entirely clear that economics (poverty) is the chief reason people have abortions. Certainly there are a lot of unwanted pregnancies that could be prevented if people had access to contraception. However, I find it hard to believe that those from families making over $30,000 can't afford contraception (and remember, that's 51% of all abortions). I'm not saying economics doesn't play a role in their decision to have an abortion. However, economic inconvenience is very different than economic impossibility (not being able to feed, house, care for the child). Moreover, one cannot argue that those below the poverty line wouldn't have abortions if they were better off financially (with better housing, health care, etc.). You can't say that because 51% of women who have abortions come from the lower-middle-class tax bracket to the firmly middle class tax bracket. Maybe some of them would opt not to have an abortion if they were better off, but certainly many would still opt to end the pregnancy.
I belabored that point to make this one: addressing socio-economic conditions won't put an end to abortions and doesn't even seem like it would cut them in half. My guess, not even close. Legislation is necessary. It must be made illegal to end the life of an unborn child.
I can hear the retort now. You can't legislate morality. My answer is, yes you can, and we do. Is theft a moral issue? Of course, and there are all kinds of laws to prevent it. Is child abuse a moral issue. Yes, and again it is illegal. I actually like Dr. Martin Luther Kings response to this line of argumentation.
Let me begin by putting this issue in perspective. In America, there are over 1.2 million abortions in 2005. Thankfully that is down from the high of 1.6 million in 1990. Teenagers account for 21% of abortions and women in their twenties account for the majority of abortions. White women have more abortions that women of other races, however, black women and Hispanic women are much more likely to have an abortion (according to the percentages). 1% of abortions are due to rape, 6% for potential health concerns. That means 93% are for social/economic reasons. PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY: Women with family incomes less than $15,000 obtain 28.7% of all abortions; Women with family incomes between $15,000 and $29,999 obtain 19.5%; Women with family incomes between $30,000 and $59,999 obtain 38.0%; Women with family incomes over $60,000 obtain 13.8%. That means 51% of women having abortions come from families making at least $30,000 a year. That's 612,000 abortions. (stats come from The Alan Guttmacher Institute - not an antiabortion institute and from the Center for BioEthical Reform - an anti abortion group).
I'm going to ignore statistics about what term the abortion happens in because I don't think it matters. Is it better to end the life of a six month old child or a one year old? What difference would it make if we ended the life of a two week old child in the womb or a six month old child in the womb?
The most shocking statistic: since 1975 there have been more than 48.5 million unborn children terminated in the womb. The population of Spain is 46 million people.
Again, I know this isn't the only issue. Many would argue that the war in Iraq has been incredibly unjust and has resulted in more than 100,000 civilian victims. For the sake of the argument I'll agree (and in some measure, I do agree, but don't need to make a detailed argument here on Just War and if the Iraq War measures up). Since 2003, 100,000 civilian casualties plus 4,000 US military deaths. That is horrific. But I'm sure you see what I'm getting at - at least that many unborn children will be terminated this month.
Going back to the demographics, it is not entirely clear that economics (poverty) is the chief reason people have abortions. Certainly there are a lot of unwanted pregnancies that could be prevented if people had access to contraception. However, I find it hard to believe that those from families making over $30,000 can't afford contraception (and remember, that's 51% of all abortions). I'm not saying economics doesn't play a role in their decision to have an abortion. However, economic inconvenience is very different than economic impossibility (not being able to feed, house, care for the child). Moreover, one cannot argue that those below the poverty line wouldn't have abortions if they were better off financially (with better housing, health care, etc.). You can't say that because 51% of women who have abortions come from the lower-middle-class tax bracket to the firmly middle class tax bracket. Maybe some of them would opt not to have an abortion if they were better off, but certainly many would still opt to end the pregnancy.
I belabored that point to make this one: addressing socio-economic conditions won't put an end to abortions and doesn't even seem like it would cut them in half. My guess, not even close. Legislation is necessary. It must be made illegal to end the life of an unborn child.
I can hear the retort now. You can't legislate morality. My answer is, yes you can, and we do. Is theft a moral issue? Of course, and there are all kinds of laws to prevent it. Is child abuse a moral issue. Yes, and again it is illegal. I actually like Dr. Martin Luther Kings response to this line of argumentation.
Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless.I'll end this post with that. I'm going to start writing the next post right now, but it will focus more on practical nuts and bolts of the issue with regards to this election. Please read on.
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