Flyer

Issue date: 11/14/05 Section: News

More than 90 percent of all abortions are performed

From 1973 through 2002, there were more than 42 million legal abortions performed in the United States. Forty-nine percent of pregnancies among American women were unintended; and half of these are terminated by abortion. Twenty-four of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion.

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, Lewis had a debate in the Santa Alberta chapel that expressed the viewpoints of Mary Louis Kurey, director of the Respect Life Office Archdiocese of Chicago, and Karen Kubby, Director of the Emma Goldman Clinic in Iowa City, Iowa.

Kurey, a firm pro-lifer, talked about abortion from a non-professional perspective. She spoke of people that she knew personally who underwent the abortion operation and about their feelings afterwards.

She spoke of one friend she had in college who would go through strange eating binges and would attempt suicide on many occasions. This behavior eventually landed her in the hospital.

The reason she said that she was in the hospital because she was forced into having an abortion and had regret due to it. Kurey said that is common with women who have abortions.

In the last 30 years, studies have shown that women who undergo abortions have significant increases in their mood changes, are more likely to suffer eating disorders and are prone to cutting themselves.

Kurey said 65 to 80 percent of women are forced into the abortion situation by someone else and it's not what they want for themselves, but they do it because it's what other people think is right for them.

"Women shouldn't have to choose between having a child or their career," she said.

In this generation, it's hard to balance both of those accomplishments, but Kurey wants women to be able to have both things in their life if they wanted to.

"Women who get pregnant should have their own control and to not let the male use the hook," she said.

Thoughout her discussion, she included quotes from people such as Ann Taylor Fleming, and Alice Paul. She talked about their views and why they also thought abortion was wrong.

"Our bodies are a sacred space not be violated by rape, domestic violence or abortion," she said.

Kurey believes women feel like they don't have a choice. She wrapped up her presentation by saying being pro-life is a message of love. We can love both the mother and the child equally.

Continued...

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