How Abortion Doesn’t Address Women’s Real Problems
by Jim Hewes
Many abortionists (Dr. Malcom Potts, Dr. Frasier Fellows, Dr. Willie Parker, etc.) claim that the reason for doing abortions is to help women.
For example, Dr. Kathi Aultman stated: “performing an abortion, I was doing something for the wellbeing of women.” (Written Testimony of Kathi A. Aultman, M.D. FACOG, November 1, 2017 House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice H.R. 490, the Heartbeat Protection Act of 2017).
She stated that she stopped doing abortions because she saw that abortion was not truly helping women (including the tiny developing women within in the womb).
Real-Life Stories
A woman wrote a letter to the newspaper sharing her experience: “I had an abortion because I had no job, no transportation, and was living in my parents’ basement.” After the abortion, she still had no job, still had no transportation, and was still living in her parents’ basement. The abortion was an attempt for a “quick fix,” which did not address her real underlying needs.
In fact, if she had connected with a crisis pregnancy center (according to a Charlotte Lozier’s Pregnancy Center Report there are more than 2,752 pregnancy centers across the United States), she would have found practical support. The staff would have helped her address her fears and work though them, knowing she was not alone. In addition, they could have helped her find a job or job training, possibly helped her find adequate transportation, find affordable housing, had a baby shower for her, and/or made available “mentoring moms,” who would have supported her in all sorts of ways. With this support, she might have thrived despite her challenging circumstances. What she truly needed was not an abortion, but practical help and a new perspective.
Consider another actual case: a single mother of several children facing an unexpected pregnancy. She lived in a small apartment and was behind on her rent. She was also behind payment on a storage unit which held many valuable possessions. She was on the brink of being evicted, and the owner of the storage unit was going to toss all of her items.
Fortunately, she connected with a crisis pregnancy center which quickly mobilized resources; a donor paid for her overdue rent, including the storage unit. The center connected her with an ob/gyn doctor. She experienced an ultrasound of her baby. A local parish organized a baby shower. She continued to receive ongoing support during this seemingly crushing situation. She then gave birth to her baby and was delighted with this new member of her family. If she had gone through with the abortion, it wouldn’t have addressed any of her seemingly overwhelming problems. She may have remained still feeling alone and very isolated, with the added burden of the abortion.
Another valuable resource is “Walking with Moms in Need”. This involves parish outreach ministries, where many women in unexpected pregnancies have found all sorts of support, including financial aid and caring people to accompany these vulnerable women in so many other ways as they face such difficult circumstances.
Many vulnerable pregnant women face housing insecurity. Abortion doesn’t help them find safe and affordable housing for keeping their child, but there is housing available in the many wonderful maternity homes throughout the United States. Women also have the loving option of adoption, blessing both their child and couples longing to grow their families.
Research Evidence Supporting Life
Research further underscores this reality. A peer-reviewed study in the journal Cureus by David Reardon, Katherine Rafferty and Tessa Longbons found that 60% of post-abortive women surveyed testified that they would have continued their pregnancy if they had had more financial security and/or more emotional support from others.
Conclusion
Abortion provides a temporary illusion of relief without addressing the underlying issues women face. Real solutions—practical, emotional, and financial support—truly empower women, offering them the chance for a fuller, more hopeful life for themselves and their children. With increasing abortion restrictions and the current defunding of Planned Parenthood, whose main focus is abortion, this approach is more needed than ever.
It’s an illusion that killing one’s child will actually help women. There are more life-giving alternatives, which will in the end truly benefit vulnerable pregnant women.
In fact, in many cases an unexpected or untimely pregnancy can actually end up as a catalyst to addressing underlying problems and eventually bring about practical solutions, which can offer the person a chance for a fuller life than before the pregnancy.
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For more of some of our posts from Jim Hewes, see:
Death Penalty and other Killing: The Destructive Effect on Us
Consistent Life History: Being Across the Board
Reflections from My Decades of Consistent Life Experience
The Consistent Life Ethic: My Christian Perspective
Abortion and Other Issues of Life: Connecting the Dots
A Personal Reflection on a Just War
Abortion and the Christian Bible: A Consistent-Life Perspective
Abortion When it Involves a Rape: See the Faces
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