costs
This is quite a sobering and sad testimony from the UK about women who undergo multiple abortions for the purpose of contraception.
According to a government statistics cited by the article, the number of women seeking more than one abortion is climbing. Approximately 1,300 women in the UK had their fifth abortion last year.
This, on top of another recent report from the UK’s Royal College of Psychiatrists, warning about the increased possibility of mental illness associated with abortion.
Is there any reason to believe this is much different in America?
Numerous faith-based ministries and pregnancy resource centers work to counsel women who feel trapped in their situations, and consider abortion to be the only way out. While there will always be folks who give the entire pro-life movement a bad rap (and they always somehow seem to be easy finds for the media), they are the minority compared to the folks quietly doing the blessed work of counseling women and providing help.
And there are encouraging stories out there as well, such as this one about a mother who’s delighted her child survived an attempted abortion.
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” -Psalm 139:13
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Jim-
I’m glad you brought this topic to the blog! I have always loved that verse from Psalm 139, and I remember chatting with my k-life girls when they were in junior high about the “bubble” which is what we giggly-girls called the “womb.” Even when I was in high school and took Anatomy, after watching video-birth, I went home and just thanked my mom over and over again for having me and caring for me to keep me safe, nourished, and alive! I think the mother-child bond is so precious and to break that bond even at an early stage is a true tragedy. When I read the story about the woman with seven abortions, I wanted to cry over her situation and her family-life growing up and her past abuse! To break those family relationships and cross those boundaries obviously is having grave consequences for generations! It made me very sad, but I felt compassion for this woman and I’m glad that you brought up counseling and treatment for women. When I read the second article from the psychiatrists in the UK, I noticed all of the comments from fifty-year-old women and their regret and suffering over their past decisions. There was one comment of a woman who seemed to have found forgiveness in the Lord and a new identity and she said it was the only thing that got her through each moment of each day. I’m really glad you brought this topic to the table, Jim.
The actual question of abortion aside: this is a perfect example of why people need to take sex more seriously. They need to be more sexually healthy and responsible. If you are going to do it, do it with someone you can trust, someone who will be every bit as responsible as you. If you are going to do it, take the proper precautions.
This is also why we need to teach teens a variety of options for sexual healthy. Contraceptives, abstinence, and other alternative methods should be taught in schools.
JIM. I am so fired up to read this. Thanks!
I like the article - it does go to show abortion as a practice can also slip into some scary scenarios for women - namely dealing with depression or guilt for the decision. I cannot truly comment on how that must feel - I am not a woman with the ability to carry and maintain life.
I do find it horrendous when abortion is used as a practice of contraception - that really bothers me. What else bothers me is the disconnect between what women who do this procedure learn on the subject - sometimes it is very lacking.I am not sure all the evidence is in from doctors about the harm to the patient in the process…I may be wrong - but it seems like the effects can be detrimental to some (ie: thinking of suicide).
I think women should be warned about this process in advance in some full and opportune way - so they make the decision they feel best with. I think if Christians are going to approach this issue - information is a good way to do it. Preventive care may be better than post-operation opinion.
I also think we cannot condemn these women either - at least i cannot. I am not a woman nor do I understand all the reasons a woman would go through this procedure - but I have a lot of them. I amy not agree with the action - but I have a responsibility to care about that person also - to ensure they are cared for also (know they are still worth something).
“I may not agree with the action - but I have a responsibility to care about that person also - to ensure they are cared for also (know they are still worth something).”
Truer words were never spoken.
Bracekyle,
Agreed, absolutely. Unfortunately, much of the battles in sex ed seem to be an either/or approach. Hopefully a time will come when methods are taught truthfully. Abstinence is the only guarantee to avoid pregnancy and disease. Other methods make sex somewhat safer, yet not foolproof.
Of my friends who are married yet engaged in intercourse before marriage with other people, they’ve all expressed regret and wished they had waited.
Also had a chance to interview Norma McCorvey once, she was Roe in Roe v. Wade. Now she works for pro-life causes, but wow…the guilt she carried for her role in legalizing the practice that allows for this type of abuse. It was immense.
Societyvs…right on. Couldn’t agree more.
“Truer words were never spoken.” -mike
mt- you sound rather poetic there. I like it.
To remember each person’s dignity and worth as they are created in God’s image…even when broken, still beautiful, and not without hope for a brighter day.
I keep thinking of how the woman in the article said that she didn’t feel like her world was “perfect” and she didn’t want to bring a child into a place that wasn’t perfect. She really was caught up in her past abuse and in a way was trying to protect her child I think, by saying that, from what she experienced as a child. As a woman created in God’s image, I don’t think that she understood her worth/value to the Lord and as a result couldn’t break the cycle of entering into unhealthy relationships. I think that this happens to lots of women. Had a conversation recently with a woman about pre-marital sex / cohabitation and as I described sexual relationships without marital commitment as “emotionally damaging”, the woman quipped in response, “But I’m already emotionally damaged.” And I thought, “You just keep breaking the window more. You have a chance for redemption and newness and you keep settling for same old, same old!” It makes sense to me that this woman from the article has struggled with these issues for her whole life and she even said that “no one was able to talk to her about how she felt.” That is such a shame, and only makes me want to increase in my ability to talk with girls and come alongside and remind them of the truth, that they are valuable, beautiful, and loved so deeply by the Lord…and that He can restore and rebuild a life that’s been broken….
good stuff here! comments and all really surprised me! i expected this huge debate and fire-bombing of each other.. instead we have concern for those who choose abortion as contraception and a lament that abstence only education isn’t cutting it and how we must step up the social responsibility in terms of sexual practices.
great heartwarming stuff. y’all made my day, rawk!
Jim, concerning sex before marriage, my personal experience and the experiences of many of my friends and family couldn’t be more the opposite of yours.
And that is why you are so right that all methods need to be taught truthfully. The idea of abstinence MUST be stressed as the only 100% sure method of avoiding pregnancy, and contraceptives like condoms (NOT SPERMICIDE) MUST be taught as a method of protection and precaution for those who find they can’t/don’t want to wait.
I have a good friend who works for planned parenthood. She is one of the counselors who advises people on the seriousness of abortion. She says that she sees many women who are on their 4th or 5th abortion. That is beyond crazy, and, as far as western nations goes, America is one of the highest in terms of STI’s and unplanned pregnancy.
The statistics are scary, indeed.
Ya know… I do not want to hijack this unbelievably encouraging and (surprisingly) agreeable conversation (echoing Luke especially), but I have to add this in.
I think about Jim’s comment about Roe being plagued with guilt, and other women who may also never be able to forgive themselves (assuming they did come to regret it). The fact that Christ carried that guilt to the cross is absolutely necessary for hope in a situation like that. It gives us something concrete, something authentic and real to place or hope in. To that God went through that much to assure us of His love… that gives me hope like nothing else out there. If God can forgive us of all the jacked up crap we do on earth, surely there is hope for healing.
I would also say that it is this understanding of the cross that enables us to talk about this topic with such grace.
I’m glad you brought that up, Brad.
“I would also say that it is this understanding of the cross that enables us to talk about this topic with such grace.” (Brad)
I agree…that type of forgiveness is atoning in every single way i can think about. Forgiveness has some weird power to it - that kind of breaks chains and free’s individuals from emotional and mental torments (namley animosity). The cross means that to me also - ‘forgive them for they know not what they are doing’…I hear that when I look at hard cases.
I hear that when I look at myself, only it’s more like, “Oh…I do know what i”m doing…”
rough stuff.