Finding common ground on abortion

Des Moines Register columnist, Kathie Obradovich, attempted to identify common abortion-related principles upon which we can all agree in her May 22nd opinion piece: “How do Iowa and federal lawmakers fail pregnant women and mothers? Let’s count the ways.” 

She succeeded in some and missed the mark on others. Let us re-count the ways by revising her list of “common principles.” Here are two:

Abortions rarely take place due to rape. According to the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute, less than half a percentage point of abortion victims had an abortion due to rape. Both sides of the debate agree it’s a rarity. And yet Ms. Obradovich spent half of her column scolding pro-lifers for regulations that don’t allow abortion due to rape. Why doesn’t she address the other ninety-nine percent of abortions?

Rape IS a monstrous act of violence. Abortion makes it worse. Abortion-minded politicians and pundits ignore this common ground principle. It is a common principle because 8 out of 10 rape victims tell us that the trauma of abortion made the trauma of their rape worse. Conversely, women who were raped, conceived, and gave birth don’t regret not having an abortion. This information comes from a survey of rape victims conducted by researchers who detailed results in their book, “Victims and Victors: Speaking Out About Their Pregnancies, Abortions and Children Resulting From Sexual Assault.”

Check back for more common ground on abortion principles.

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