by Carol Hoenig

Created on: February 12, 2007   Last Updated: September 08, 2009

If life is so sacred, why is it that pregnancy can occur as easily by an act of violence as a marital act of love?

If life is so sacred, why then is the ability to procreate available to those who aren't even old enough to have a license to drive, but whose hormones are raging; raging so much that abstinence is more difficult than giving in to the primal urges, in spite of the risks?

It is one thing to stand outside abortion clinics carrying signs of protest and intimidating - er, I mean, praying, for the women who are gaining entrance to the clinic, but quite another if these people are able to offer a viable solution. They do suggest adoption, but then refuse gay couples the right to adopt. Apparently, not only do these people want to halt abortion, but have a say about who gets the baby once it is born. I am not asking a person who doesn't believe in terminating a pregnancy to do so. What I am saying is that they should do what is right for them and leave this issue between the woman and her conscience. If the religious believe that God is the final authority, then let Him be that.

Interestingly, prior to the legalization of abortion, there were a large number of orphanages where many children lived until they were old enough to go out on their own without having had a family life. For one reason or another, they were not considered adoptable. If Roe v. Wade gets overturned it may likely mean the need for orphanages once again and many of these children will futilely wait to be adopted. The number of children needing homes will be more than the demand. However, wouldn't it be wonderful if every child conceived could be brought to fruition and placed in a loving home?

But wait, that would mean the woman will be forced to carry the child to term, which means her career will need to be put on hold or even jeopardized. There will be those who will say that she should have used protection or abstained altogether; meanwhile, the man who impregnated her can proceed without so much as having a hiccup in his routine. Interesting, too, that the largest percentage of those vocal pro-lifers happen to be men. There is something subjugating in this, something that merits closer examination.

The anti-choicers tend to think views like mine imply that I don't care for children. How wrong this thinking is. I am an advocate for children. (I have three of my own, two whom I adopted.) I want children to live in homes that are loving and nurturing. I want children to grow up to be responsible. My wish is for every child conceived, to be a child that is wanted. However, until pregnancy is no longer arbitrary, that will not happen. And it appears this topic is going to be discussed with passion for a very long time, even if Roe v. Wade gets overturned.

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