catholicsphere

Law can be a persuasive teacher. A majority opinion is that the government would not allow actions that would be harmful to individuals or society. People thus conclude that abortion is not harmful. This is one reason why the legalization of abortion is problematic; it allows a potentially harmful practice to occur, leaving it “for the woman to decide”, with no guarrantee that the woman will get solid medical, psychological and ethical advice. Abortion advocates have blocked measures to require a specific level of information be provided to women seeking abortion. They cite “privacy concerns” and “coercive action” in their arguments. The reason? Because giving women more information to process might result in fewer abortions. If a woman really knew, for instance through a sonogram, that there was a human life growing inside of her, she might not go through with it. Or, if a woman knew of the psychological effects abortion would likely have on her life for many years afterward, she might reconsider.

And this would eat into the billion-dollar abortion industry profits.

Setting aside for the moment the very important issue of terminating the life of a human being, there is a point that we must consider. The arguments go back and forth over whether abortion causes physical or psychological problems such as breast cancer or depression. There has been research to support the arguments of both sides. So, what do we do? If we err in anything, we should err on the side of caution. This means that if there is evidence of harm, we educate people to that fact, and try to protect them from those harms. In the case of abortion however, we allow harm to come to people without being certain that they are giving informed consent to any associated or resulting risks.

Some may argue that these are adults making these decisions, and they can make the best choices for themselves. Yet, without all the information, they might not make the best decision. And, legislation to ensure that adults are making the decisions has at times been put down, or overturned, in the case of parental consent/notification laws. For instance, a case last year in Florida said that “right to privacy” usurped “age of consent” laws, such that a minor could consent to abortion without parental notification. This is the abortion industry protecting itself, without regard to the patients being treated. They know if they give one iota on their position, it may lead down a road where people realize the dangers, physically, emotionally, ethically and morally of abortion.

And that would cost them more than lost revenue.