Abortion Again

 Once more I will try to explain and persuade. Abortion is a serious, moral wrong when done for selfish reasons, IMO. However, as my Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made it very clear that there is no absolute prohibition of abortion:

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in the sanctity of human life. Therefore, the Church opposes elective abortion for personal or social convenience, and counsels its members not to submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions.

The Church allows for possible exceptions for its members when:

Pregnancy results from rape or incest, or

A competent physician determines that the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy, or

A competent physician determines that the fetus has severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.

The Church teaches its members that even these rare exceptions do not justify abortion automatically. Abortion is a most serious matter and should be considered only after the persons involved have consulted with their local church leaders and feel through personal prayer that their decision is correct.

The Church has not favored or opposed legislative proposals or public demonstrations concerning abortion."

Is there anything in this official statement that looks like an absolute ban or ban on voting for those who support a woman's right to choose? I don't see it.

And how are the rare exceptions to be determined? Not by a judge in a legal proceeding, not by debates in Congress or the State Legislature. It is a personal, medical, and religious determination to be made, not a political one. The statement ends with this:

The Church has not favored or opposed legislative proposals or public demonstrations concerning abortion. 

I don't have to mingle this with scripture or provide much philosophy to trip anybody up. There is absolutely no prohibition to vote for Democrats who support a woman's right to choose whether or not to have an abortion!

Here are some studies and reports that show that the provision of birth control options and health care reduce the abortion rate:

National Institutes of Health, U.S. Depart. of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Service, Washington, DC

University School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri

Institute for Health Care Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Brookings Institute, Washington, DC

"Colorado Abortion Rates Declining," The Colorado Sun, Denver, Colorado 

"Free Birth Control Access Can Reduce Abortion Rate by More Than Half" Scientific American (reporting on the Washington University study above)

"America's Abortion Rate Has Dropped to Its Lowest Ever," New York Times (attributed to wider use of birth control)

I know there are studies from organizations disagreeing with these propositions. So, CHOOSE what you want to believe. You have a choice. Women facing difficult circumstances should have a choice too.

In a recent conversation with a conservative friend, it came down to this from him - if you don't want a baby, don't have sex. When women choose to have sex, they should be willing to have a baby not to have an abortion to get rid of it for their own convenience.

Trying to point out that it takes two to tango and what about the man's responsibility because he doesn't suffer any physical risks with pregnancy, the answer came that society should make men responsible to support the baby. I don't disagree with that, but in reality it seems that men can easily escape the responsibilities of fatherhood while a mother cannot escape the responsibilities and risks of a pregnancy even before a baby may be born and the responsibility for its life passed on through adoption or societal support. And I absolutely reject the proposition that women always have sex because they want to.

Women have sex for a lot of reasons, some pleasurably selfish, some not. Rape goes under-reported especially within a marriage or domestic relationship. And where is that line between a woman's choice to engage in sex for love, pleasure, to please a man, or to accommodate, distract, or diffuse a man's desires, frustration, anger, and threats of violence? Sexual relations in every instance and circumstance are very complex. Just as it takes an ecclesiastical leader in LDS decisions to consider an abortion, moral and religious beliefs and practices come into play in every sexual connection -- or not.

It may come down to this. Rather than the idea that if you don't want a baby, don't have sex, what about an idea that women need more power and control over reproduction? Choices should be made available. These function very well in a sacred marriage where sex can be a wholesome, moral experience and children are planned and welcomed. But that is not where all sex happens. Do you want to regulate all forms of sexual behavior? We've had laws against adultery that seem to be fading or at least unenforced. Do we want to go back to the scarlet A? 

Abortion like Adultery starts with an "A."

Are we more concerned about the moral implications of abortion or a woman's sexual behavior? 

Whatever, please consider voting Democratic to give women more options for better health and reproductive behavior to avoid the disfavored option of abortion.

The real reason I ask you to vote Democratic is to remove the power of the most morally corrupt individual ever to inhabit the White House along with the political party that enables him and his family. Please, I beg  you!
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Addendum Sept. 28, 2020:
As I have had some comments on this one, I thought I would link to my previous postings on this issue:

 

Why do you keep bringing up abortion?

Hillary explains abortion
Wendy Davis: Democratic Hero

Ground shaking beneath our feet

Democrats don't kill babies
Not killing babies