Letters To The Editor (cont’d)

Some Just Want Abortion to Go Away
Editor, Times-Dispatch: I have heard that President Barack Obama is looking for a meeting of the minds on abortion and I have read the Op/Ed column by Lindsey Oliver, "Every Woman Should Have Reproductive Rights."

There are people who promote abortion, people who provide abortions, people who have abortions, and those of us who have just hoped it would go away. The children who were never given a chance have no voice.

There have been plenty of laws that have turned out to be evil. Where we stand with God is all that will matter in the long run. I do think that we need to speak out for those who have no voice. When one dies, a woman may come face to face with the child she killed. What will she say to him or her? It will be too late to repent.

Mary Louise Forte.
Richmond.

In fact, as a pro-choice person, I don't think anti-abortionists are "pro-life." They should be termed "anti-choice." To Catholics and others frenzied over abortion, remember that God is perfect. There is no sense in believing in a flawed God. If you decide to believe, you accept that God is merciful and omniscient and that, as he created all souls, those innocent, aborted ones will be recycled to choose new parents. Let's hope they'll make better choices for their next junket to Earth.

Lighten up, people; give women the right to choose what to do with their bodies -- even if you don't approve. Open your hearts and minds, and understand that this isn't a perfect world. Show tolerance toward people whose ideas you don't always accept or agree with. Jesus did.

Carolyn Waugaman.
Hanover.

Oliver neglects personal accountability and sharply blames the federal government -- and especially white, male, Republican Henry Hyde -- for keeping poor women from getting the abortions they so rightly deserve. The fact is that this government has made abortion even more accessible than before, with continued taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood and the president's recent overturning of the Mexico City Act.

Dangerously misguided advocates like Oliver victimize the very women they profess to help, choosing to accept the bad science, lies, and deception behind the pro-choice movement. They ignore proactive solutions such as behavior modification, abstinence, and contraception -- all proven procedures, but not falling under the pitiless Oliver's twisted definition of women's rights.

Women should not be tricked into abortions when there are other options. Crisis pregnancy centers and Commonwealth Catholic Charities, among others, help women through all stages of pregnancy, offering preand post-natal care and job skills.

A recent Gallup polls shows that 51 percent of Americans now consider themselves pro-life, and a recent Polling Company/Women Trend poll shows that 71 percent of Americans oppose taxpayer-funded abortions. With eroding public support for abortions, coupled with education, abstinence programs, and personal accountability, folks like Oliver will soon be without a job. The unborn certainly pray this is the case.

Dale Brumfield.
Doswell.

How our society ever came to this is beyond me. I cannot figure out why a woman who becomes pregnant and does not want the child cannot carry it to term and then put the baby up for adoption. I personally know several people who have placed their babies for adoption. This gives the baby a life and also fills a need for many Americans.

I also know women who have been on waiting lists for several years waiting to adopt a child. This wouldn't be necessary if our country hadn't legalized abortion. Does the mother with the unwanted pregnancy just not want to be bothered with carrying a child to full term to later place for adoption? Has it become just too easy to dispose of the unwanted baby?

I absolutely, positively object to my tax dollars going to support in any way, shape, or form, any type of services that would financially support women who want to take the lives of their unborn babies. I had to work very hard for every penny I've earned, and I don't want it going to something that I believe is unethical, inhumane, and immoral. I certainly hope Virginia will never be on board to support any type legislation that would assist women in disposing of their unwanted babies.

Mary T. Hutchinson.
Richmond.

He wrote, "Pro-choice and pro-life? Abortion and opposition to it? Good and evil?" He goes on to say that Barack Obama and many other politicians avoid the basic issues of abortion by not really answering them. He even adds that "abortion supporters have learned not to be too specific about what is actually going on."

This cannot be said of pro-life supporters. They get right to the point: If you have an abortion, you are a murderer! What's really going on? Pro-life does not support birth control! Pro-life does not support Planned Parenthood. What's up with that? Even the pope recently stated that the Catholic Church does not approve of condoms. Good grief! Sounds like a good way to make sure there are abortions!

Why must it be all one way or the other? I don't want an abortion. I want reliable, affordable, easy-to-get birth control.

Greenberg also wrote, "black and Hispanic women tend to have abortions out of all proportion to their numbers." Could it possibly be because birth-control pills cost $30 or more a month? A woman must see a doctor to get these pills, and those visits are very expensive! It's possible that back-alley abortions cost less!

Why, oh why, is this the case? Pro-lifers should be focusing on helping make sure abortions aren't necessary. All women should have access to affordable birth control. All humans are sexual. If you really don't want murder of the unborn child, sexuality must be recognized. Everyone wants to be "pro-life." Call each side what it is! Pro-Choice and No-Choice.

Susan Keadle.
Moseley.

The federal government subsidizes abortions only when a Medicaid-eligible woman's life is at risk or in cases of rape or incest. In Virginia, we fund abortions beyond the federal requirements. Incredibly, from 2006-2007, Virginia tax dollars have funded 301 elective abortions (149 in fiscal year 2007 and 152 in fiscal year 2006).

Public interest is in favor of ending this funding. The Family Foundation and the Virginia Catholic Conference co-sponsored a Mason-Dixon poll in December 2008, and when asked if they supported Virginia's policy of using state money to pay for abortions falling outside the categories of rape, incest, and endangering the life of the mother, 46 percent of respondents were opposed to the funding, with only 39 percent in support.

Furthermore, a recent Harris poll found that 63 percent of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. Combine this with the widely publicized recent Gallup poll showing that 53 percent of Americans believe that abortion should be legal only in certain circumstances, and it is clear the tide against abortion on demand is growing. Why, then, is Virginia choosing to subsidize elective abortions when most citizens disagree with the policy?

In a time when our economy is struggling, it is time to end this unethical and unpopular funding of elective abortion. Virginia tax dollars should no longer be funneled to a cause that most citizens do not support. Victoria E. Cobb, President, The Family Foundation of Virginia. Richmond.