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Six Myths That Keep Abortion Legal
By Bob Laird
(Special to the HERALD)
Michael Schwartz, a staff member of the House of Representatives and a long-time pro-life political observer and activist, was the guest speaker Jan. 7 at the Mount Vernon Council of the Knights of Columbus. His topic was the "Six Myths that Keep Abortion Legal." Schwartz, the author of several books and articles, has been a popular lecturer and frequent guest on radio and television.
He began by recalling the events of 26 years ago after the Supreme Court transmitted the Roe v. Wade decision which legalized abortion in the United States. "No political issue has been more central to the dialog of the culture in our country," he said. He noted that 26 years ago the people who organized the first March for Life "never realized that the problem wouldn't be solved by 1999."
Schwartz then discussed the six key myths that
keep abortion legal. The most impressive analysis was the fifth myth that
abortion solves problems. He related a story from a crisis pregnancy center
director. She said there were three questions that she would ask of the
woman in a crisis pregnancy: (1) "What's going on inside of you?"— with
the anticipated answer of, "My baby…" (2) What will the abortion do to
your baby?" — with the expected answer, "It will kill my baby." (3) "Is
that what you want?" — with the expected answer, "No, but I have to go
through with the
abortion because…"
The key to the abortion battle, said Schwartz, is the words that come after the "because." Those words become the real problem to be solved. "The whole abortion culture which says that the baby is always the problem, always leaves the problem there after the abortion," said Schwartz. He challenged the Catholic Church to finds ways of identifying the real problems to be solved and then providing the means to solving them.
Schwartz reviewed the various exceptions that people use to qualify an abortion position. For example, with regard to the "life of the mother exception," he recalls a statement made by his boss, Rep. Tom Colbern (R-Wis.), an OB-GYN physician. Colbern reminded him that, with modern medicine, there is never a situation where the baby needs to be killed to save the life of the mother."
Returning to the myths that keep abortion legal,
Schwartz said the first myth is, "The back alley myth," which says that
abortions would be dangerous if they were not legal. He spoke of the character
of the abortionist. "You don't go to medical school to become an abortionist,"
said Schwartz, rather, "You become an abortionist when you run out of medicine
to practice." He then
cited case after case of unsanitary conditions
and criminal medical practices at abortion clinics and criminal cases against
abortionists. He concluded that, "legal does not mean safe." Abortion is
not
safe today. The abortion facility merely exists
for the profit of the owners. Thus, maximizing the number of clients is
the key to profit.
The second myth was that "abortion is a choice."
Schwartz noted that "little girls don't aspire to grow up and have an abortion."
Abortions happen "when you run out of choices." He noted that
those who are truly pro-choice are those who
run crisis pregnancy facilities and offer women the choice between keeping
their child or giving it up for adoption.
The third myth is that "abortion is a women's right." Schwartz cited evidence that as a result of abortion, there has been an increase of domestic violence against women and divorce. "After we make our children disposable; we might as well make our wives disposable," related Schwartz. "Abortion actually abuses women's rights," he said.
The fourth myth is the myth of privacy. This centers around the discussion that there is no hierarchy of beliefs and that, "You have a right to believe what you want to believe and live under what you believe." He noted that every criminal wants to keep his crime private. He notes that burglars, rapists and murderers all do their work under the shroud of darkness and secrecy.
The final myth was that abortion is a religious issue. To that myth, he responded by saying that if abortion were merely a religious issue, "then confession would be the solution.
"God's grace is abounding," said Schwartz. He noted that, except for politicians, he has never seen a person become pro-abortion who truly understood that abortion was the killing of a baby; but he has seen many who became pro-life after realizing that abortion is about killing.
His talk was part of the Mount Vernon Council's
preparation for their participation in the Jan. 22 March for Life in Washington,
D.C. The council traditionally provides bus transportation to the march;
coffee, donuts and juice for marchers beforehand and a hot meal upon their
return.
This article was published in the Arlington
Catholic Herald,
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 607, Arlington, VA 22203; Vol 24, No 2;
page 15, dated Jan. 14, 1999.
E-mail:
letters@catholicherald.com
Fax: 703/524-2782;
Editorial: 703/841-2590;
Advertising: 703/841-2594;
Circulation: 703/841-2565
A note from the Web Master:
It is noteworthy and honorable that some folks are willing to stand up for a ban on Partial-Birth Abortion. Let us not forget that ordinary everyday Abortion is also murder. We must understand that murder is murder no matter the method. Because one method of abortion seems to be horrible does not justify the other methods. We should be horrified and sickened by any Abortion regardless of the method. The Fifth Commandment spells it out clearly: "Thou shalt not kill." A fetus is a person, a human being with a God given soul. Imagine the pain the Lord must feel when any Abortion occurs. Please contact both of your Senators and Representative, via letter or phone, to let them know how horrified you are that Abortions are legal and to stop Partial-Birth Abortions and all other Abortions as soon as possible. (It has become apparent that they do not respond to email therefore you will have more of an impact by writing or telephoning.)
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