By Krista Kafer (krista555@msn.com) “I’m glad I had an abortion and I want the world to know it” declare the over 5,000 signers of Ms. Magazine’s new petition. According to the magazine, the purpose of the “We had an Abortion” petition, a repeat of a similar one published by Ms. three decades ago, is to “help eliminate the stigma” of abortion and to demand the repeal of restrictions on abortion.
At present it is legal to kill an unborn child until the point of natural birth. The few restrictions that exist cover issues such as public funding or notification of parents when their teenager seeks an abortion. Presumably, anything short of publicly funded abortion-on-demand would be too restrictive for the signers.
As for the elimination of stigma, abortion proponents are fairly close to their goal. Abortion garners uncomfortable looks in polite company, not sadness or anger -- and the shallow pool of pity evaporates when they’re told that the death of unborn children might produce a future cure for disease. The absence of pity is a sign that the heart of the nation grows ever colder.
Every day 3,500 children die from abortion in America. The profitable $400 million a year industry has claimed the lives of more than 40 million children in three decades. For the vast majority (93%) of these cases abortion served as birth control after the fact. As one signer of the Ms. pledge said, she had other plans and “didn't want to be stopped by anything.” Or anyone, apparently.
When life is easily taken, any reason will do. A few months ago Vincent Carroll of the Rocky Mountain News wrote about late term abortions of children with club feet or webbed fingers problems that are easily fixed through surgery. Without stigma, there is no need to justify.
All of the women I know who have had abortions regret the death of their children and would take back that moment in time if they could. Some cannot have children because of the damage done to their bodies. Abortion has wounded them deeply. Through counseling and the acceptance of God’s love and forgiveness, these women have become courageous advocates for children and vulnerable women. They have not traded shame for pride, but shame for grace and for love.
The nation must follow them on the road towards mercy.