Contracteption and Abortion-something worth posting about!

I couldn't believe my ears last night watching the O'Reilly Factor so much so that I had to jump on my computer and compose an email to him.  Apparently he thinks widespread birth control would save lives by reducing the number of abortions?!  I hope I set him straight with some facts from someone who is way more eloquent than myself, Dr. Janet Smith! At this time when our federal government thinks it is doing us all a service by handing out birth control for free, we all need to read up on the facts so we can dispell myths such as these!  Unfortunately, I imagine O'Reilly's views are very common.  I know he is Catholic and truly believes that this will save lives.  Many others likely feel this way as well and need to be educated as well.  (Sidenote-O'Reilly is not for this practice, but it is more for economic reasons).

Bill O'Reilly,


I thought you would know better: an increase in birth control use leads to an INCREASE in abortions, as opposed save lives! "Rather, most abortions are had because men and women who do not want a baby are having sexual intercourse and facing pregnancies they did not plan for and do not want. Because their contraceptive failed, or because they failed to use a contraceptive, they then resort to abortion as a back-up. Many believe that if we could convince men and women to use contraceptives responsibly we would reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and thus the number of abortions. Thirty years ago this position might have had some plausibility, but not now. We have lived for about thirty years with a culture permeated with contraceptive use and abortion; no longer can we think that greater access to contraception will reduce the number of abortions. Rather, wherever contraception is more readily available the number of unwanted pregnancies and the number of abortions increases greatly. " Additionally, "we need to realize that a society in which contraceptives are widely used is going to have a very difficult time keeping free of abortions since the lifestyles and attitudes that contraception fosters create an alleged "need" for abortion." Dr. Janet Smith speaks very eloquently on this topic and I have cut and pasted more of her solid arguments below from http://www.goodmorals.org/smith4.htm . Her CD titled Contraception: Why Not is invaluable (updated-the entire transcript of that CD can be found here: http://www.janetsmith.excerptsofinri.com/ ). Dr. Janet Smith would make an excellent guest on your show! I still love you, but I think you should publically redact your statement! ;)-Wheelbarrow Rider

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Rather, most abortions are had because men and women who do not want a baby are having sexual intercourse and facing pregnancies they did not plan for and do not want. Because their contraceptive failed, or because they failed to use a contraceptive, they then resort to abortion as a back-up. The connection between contraception and abortion is primarily this: contraception facilitates the kind of relationships and even the kind of attitudes and moral characters that are likely to lead to abortion. The contraceptive mentality treats sexual intercourse as though it had little natural connection with babies; it thinks of babies as an "accident" of pregnancy, as an unwelcome intrusion into a sexual relationship, as a burden. The sexual revolution has no fondness — no room for — the connection between sexual intercourse and babies. The sexual revolution simply was not possible until fairly reliable contraceptives were available.

Far from being a check to the sexual revolution, contraception is the fuel that facilitated the beginning of the sexual revolution and enables it to continue to rage. In the past, many men and women refrained from illicit sexual unions simply because they were not prepared for the responsibilities of parenthood. But once a fairly reliable contraceptive appeared on the scene, this barrier to sex outside the confines of marriage fell. The connection between sex and love also fell quickly; ever since contraception became widely used, there has been much talk of, acceptance of, and practice of casual sex and recreational sex. The deep meaning that is inherent in sexual intercourse has been lost sight of; the willingness to engage in sexual intercourse with another is no longer a result of a deep commitment to another. It no longer bespeaks a willingness to have a child with another and to have all the consequent entanglements with another that babies bring. Contraception helps reduce one's sexual partner to just a sexual object since it renders sexual intercourse to be without any real commitments. Certainly one can easily imagine how attractive abortion would be in the face of a contraceptive failure — one has made not commitment to one's sexual partner or exacted one, so how can one expect one's self or one's sexual partner to take on the responsibility of raising a child. Some clinics report that up to 50% of the abortions are of pregnancies that resulted from contraceptive failure.

Furthermore, the casualness with which sexual unions are now entered is accompanied by a casualness and carelessness in the use of contraceptives. Studies show that the women having abortions are very knowledgeable about birth control methods; the great majority — eighty per cent — are experienced contraceptors but they display carelessness and indifference in their use of contraception for a variety of reasons. Contraception has enabled them to enter a sexual relationship or a life style, but while the relationship or life style continues the contraceptive practice does not continue..

One researcher reports the reasons why sexually active, contraceptively experienced women stop contracepting: she observes that some have broken up with their sexual partners and believe they will no longer need a contraceptive but they find themselves sexually active anyway. Others dislike the physical exam required for the pill, or dislike the side-effects of the pill and some are deterred by what inconvenience or difficulty there is in getting contraceptives. Many unmarried women do not like to think of themselves as sexually active; using contraceptives conflicts with their preferred self-image. The failure to use birth control is a sign that many women are not comfortable with being sexually active. That is, many of the women are engaged in an activity that, for some reason, they do not wish to admit to themselves.

Read more at http://www.goodmorals.org/smith4.htm
The "Contraception: Why Not?" talk can be found here http://www.janetsmith.excerptsofinri.com/

A Response to Requests to Support Susan G. Komen

It amazes me how everywhere I look there is a pink ribbon and some portion of the proceeds of the sale of something I love goes to breast cancer research.  And not just any breast cancer research.  Specifically one company-Susan G. Komen.  It seems they have the monopoly over it all.  Despite this, it was a long time before I was infomred of the breast cancer and abortion link and the fact that Susan G. Komen donates all this money to planned parenthood.  But, thankfully, God surrounded me by the right people and I eventually learned this information.  Since then, I think it is important to share it with others that also may not know.  Especially because I am constantly being asked to donate to them-it seems Susan G. Komen is EVERYWHERE.  Oh, well, just that many more oportunities to spread the word. 

In fact, I got one of those emails today.  I was somewhat surprised to see it came from my church's parents with young children group.  She is doing the walk.  I immediately drafted a response and, in a somewhat bold move, posted my response on the list serve that the original email came from rather than drafting a private response.  My thinking was that it was best to inform all of them, just in case, though I can imagine it may be seeen as confrontational and unnecessarily taking additional potential donors away.  Perhaps I was willing to do this because I haven't been a member long and don't know the girls well, but I would like to think I would have responded regardless in this manner. (update-one girl just emailed the whole group in reply thanking me for my response, saying she felt the same way and it was important we spread the word-yeah!)

Below is my response.  I am including it for a few reasons.  First of all, to inform if you are not already aware of these things.  Second of all, if you like it, save yourself some time and keep it onhand when (you eventually will) you get approached to donate to this organization.  (I imagine the walk is coming up soon).  Finally, I would like feedback.  Is there a better way to say what I said?  My goal is to be information and not off putting.  These women and men usually, at least when they are participating in the walk, have close family members affected and the issue is near and dear to them.  I would love any recommendations on how to make this letter better-whether it be more resources you know of, some quotes or facts or citations to beef it up, or you just notice something that is unnecessarily stated in a way that would alienate rather than bring in others.  I appreciate your feedback!

""...once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act."

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X,


I am sorry to hear that your mom had breast cancer, but I am glad her story had a happy ending. I can't even fathom. I think it is wonderful you are taking some action and literally getting on your feet to make a difference.

Unfortunately, I can't sponsor you because of a conflict of interest you may not be familiar with. The Susan G. Komen foundation pours millions of dollars into donations to Planned Parenthood (who does manual exams, rather than provide mamograms with this money) and embryonic stem cell research. While I obviously support finding a cure for breast cancer and also adult stem cell research, I can't ethically financially or otherwise support embryonic stem cell research or the leading provider of abortions (by the way, there is research now showing a link between abortions and breast cancer).

You may or may not know these things already and if so, may or may not agree with me. I understand. I still appreciate you taking the time and effort to work towards a cure for breast cancer.

If you would like to donate funds to BOTH Research Breast Cancer & Protect Lives in the Womb, here are a few options...

1. Polycarp Research Institute (www.polycarp.org)

2. Breast Cancer Prevention Institute http://www.bcpinstitute.org/home.htm

3. AbortionBreastCancer.com http://abortionbreastcancer.com/

Best of luck to you,
WBR