It is to cease funding, at all, any organization that, as one service among others (maternal prenatal care, well-baby clinics, birth control...), offers abortion counseling. (Not just abortion; abortion "counseling.")
Yes, I know. I've made this point before and I don't think it can be made often enough. I agree that most people don't understand it. If they did, I don't think they'd let it stand.
I'm not sure, though, whether the side effects were intentional or not. From the POV of a pro-life zealot, it might be good strategy to try to put the onus on the service providers. After all, if Planned Parenthood quit offering abortion counseling in New Jersey, they would be able to provide condoms in Africa. Ergo, it's the service provider that is causing the pain in Africa, not the pro-lifers. I don't buy that, but I'll bet it gives the service providers in the field a lot of pain and may allow the pro-life zealots to sleep nights.
And I'm thinking that consciousness raising is the only deterrent you would consider for ending late term abortions.
And I think late term abortions are infanticide.
I take your point and I don't disagree from a moral perspective. Morally I don't see any difference between a viable fetus and a newborn.
From a legal perspective, I don't see anywhere to draw a bright line but at birth. First of all, that's the established standard and part of the legal underpinnings of the U.S. government. Viability is terribly murky to use as a criminal standard. And conception is just plain silly. It seems to me that, from a legal perspective, we're stuck with birth.
It's easier for me to take that position knowing that late term abortions aren't often done frivolously In addition, I'm supportive of assistance in dying. Shortening the death process in my mind is charity. I hope I will have someone to help me if I need it.
Going to the mat on late-term abortions is another matter.
Karen |
