President Obama went on the Tonight Show last night to attack the comments of Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock, who said in a debate that “even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something God intended to happen.” Mr. Obama said, “This is exactly why you don’t want a bunch of politicians, mostly male, making decisions about women’s health care decisions. Women are capable of making these decisions in consultation with their partners, with their doctors, and for politicians to want to intrude in this stuff often times without any information is a huge problem.” He added, “Roe v. Wade is probably hanging in the balance,” in the upcoming election.
In all fairness, I would say to Mr. Mourdock that God allows uncomfortable circumstances to occur, and that whatever is intended for evil, God can bring forth good. God loves the mother and the baby; both are victims of the rape. Babies are not evil, no matter the circumstances of their conception.
As to President Obama’s concerns regarding “a bunch of males” making decisions about women’s lives and their bodies, three African American males – Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr. my grandfather, the father of my son and my brother – made a decision for me when they insisted that I not abort my son. Granddaddy said the baby was not “a lump of flesh” but was a person. My brother agreed. The baby’s father was a medical resident and said to me, “no abortion. This is a baby with 46 chromosomes, 23 from you, 23 from me. I want mine back alive.” They, this bunch of males were right, I was wrong. Period. By the way, men do regret lost fatherhood. Read the eye opening book by Kevin Burke.
For more information regarding rape, incest and abortion, visit www.rebeccakiessling.com where Attorney Rebecca Kiessling discusses a three-step process in terms of how candidates should answer the question of rape, incest and abortion:
1. The Supreme Court has said that the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment for rapists and that rapists don’t deserve the death penalty. I don’t think the innocent child conceived in rape deserves the death penalty for the crimes of her father. It seems to me that is cruel and unusual punishment.
2. Rape victims are four times more likely to die within the next year after the abortion, with a higher rate of suicide, murder, drug overdose, etc. As someone who really cares about rape victims, I want to protect them from the rapist, and from the abortion, and not the baby. A baby is not the worst thing that could ever happen to a rape victim — an abortion is. We need to educate the American public on the truth in this matter and not make public policy based on myth and misinformation.
3. Rape victims choose abortion at half the rate of the average unplanned pregnancy, which is over 50%. Only 15-25% of rape victims choose abortion, depending on the study. The majority of rape victims choose to raise her child — not “the rapist’s baby” — HER child.
Of course, I also think it helps to share a personal story (here’s mine)and there are lots available, of women who became pregnant by rape and either regret aborting, are raising their children or are birth-moms, as well as stories of those of us conceived in rape and/or incest. You can find those stories at www.rebeccakiessling.com/Othersconceivedinrape.html
Read this great article on the subject.
Related posts: