Life Links 8/18/09

Wesley Smith writes regarding a story that a woman in Tunisia is apparently pregnant with 12 children after using IVF.

IVF has brought joy to millions of parents. But it has also fueled the hedonism front of the coup de culture. Moreover, because the reproductive industry, feminists, bioethicists, and others in the anything goes crowd resist any reasonable regulation, it has also opened the door to treating nascent human life as mere ore taken from a mine, set the Brave New World project on its trajectory, led to women becoming so many paid brood mares, caused the death, disability, and serious illness of egg donors and sellers, and transformed reproduction into a mercantile transaction in which people believe they have the right not only to a baby, but to the baby–or many babies–they want.

Debra Hafner is mad about the Capps Amendment because it doesn't force all insurance companies to cover abortion. Here's a portion of a letter written by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, signed by pro-choice religious leader and sent to members of Congress:

If coverage for abortion is eliminated from health care reform, the poor and communities of color will bear the consequences.

"The consequences" clearly meaning "more children." And apparently having more children isn't good for the future of families and communities.

Already, a low-income woman is four times as likely to have an unintended pregnancy and five times as likely to have an unintended birth as her higher income counterpart. Lack of access to abortion services perpetuates inequality and compromises the future of women, their families and their communities.

So poor women and women of color have the future of their families compromised if they can't have abortions paid for with tax-dollars. I think just the opposite is true. In communities where abortions are paid for with tax dollars, my guess is there is likely to a greater breakdown in families and communities.

In this religiously pluralistic nation, our health care system should be inclusive and respectful of diverse religious beliefs and decisions regarding childbearing.

And by "inclusive" and "respectful of diverse religious beliefs," RCRC means, "Take the ultra-liberal position of making abortions part of a public health care plan and pay no attention to the position of those who oppose this."


Here's an update on the medical license of South Dakota's only abortion clinic.

Lawyers for the Department of Health say a formal notice that Planned Parenthood is violating the state's informed consent law does not mean the abortion provider will lose its license anytime soon.

Planned Parenthood last week asked U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier for a temporary restraining order, which would prevent the state from suspending its license until the judge rules on a lawsuit concerning disclosure forms they provide to pregnant women. They said they could lose their license as soon as Aug. 22.

In a response filed Monday, state lawyers say that if the Department of Health takes administrative action Aug. 22, it only will set in motion the steps required to suspend Planned Parenthood's license.