ISS:Reasons for Abortion  by James & Joan Werning 

   RAPE AND ABORTION 

   Over 98% of all abortions are done simply because the mother does
not want the baby. Only one out of every 25,000 abortions is done
because of a pregnancy occuring from rape. Multiple studies show that
less than 1% of the women who are raped become pregnant. (Basile J.
Uddo, "On Rape, Incest and the Right to Life," The Human Life Review,
Vol X, No. 3, Summer 1984, p.58.), ("What the Public Really Thinks
About Abortion," Concerned Women For America, 122 C. St NW, Washington,
D.C. 20001), (Dr. & Mrs. Wilke, Abortion: Questions & Answers, Hayes
Publishing Co., Cincinnati, OH).

   If abortion is permissible for pregnancies resulting from sexual
assault, the assault must be proven. But this requires legal action
which will take months. By the time the case is through court, the
child could be born. This would be unworkable. As a result, MERELY THE
CLAIM OF RAPE would be enough to justify abortion.

   A baby should not suffer for the wrong of it's father. Experience
shows that abortion compounds the mothers trauma of rape with yet
another act of violence. An estimated 400,000 couples are willing to
adopt and love children. ('The Least of These', Curt Young, Moody
Press, Chicago, 1984, p.207).

   ABORTION TO SAVE MOTHER'S LIFE

   Once again, over 98% of all abortions are done simply because of
preference. However, "today it is possible for almost any patient to be
brought through pregnancy alive, unless she suffers from a fatal
illness such as cancer or leukemia, and if so, abortion would be
unlikely to prolong, much less save life." On rare occasions a baby's
placenta implants in the mother's fallopian tubes instead of in the
uterus (ectopic pregnancy). In most cases the fetus must be removed to
save the mother's life. (quote from Alan Guttmacher, "Abortion
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow," The Case for Legalized Abortion Now,
Diablo: Berkeley CA, 1967).

   "BACK-ALLEY ABORTIONS"

   Most "back-alley abortions" were not done in back alleys. A study in
1958 showed that 84 to 87% were done by "reputable physicians." (Dr. &
Mrs. J.C.Wilke, Abortion: Questions and Answers, Hayes Publishing.,
Cincinnati, OH)

   A past president of Planned Parenthood stated in 1960 that "90% of
all illegal abortions are presently done by physicians." (M. Calderone,
"Illegal Abortion as a Public Health Problem," Amer. Jour. of Health,
Vol. 50, 7/60, p.949.)

   In 1972 (the year before legalized abortion) only 39 deaths were
recorded from abortion. Dr. Bernard Nathanson admits to having falsely
circulated a much higher figure ("5,000-10,000 annually") before the
Supreme Court hearings in order to bring about legal abortion. However,
after presiding over 75,000 fetal deaths as the head of the world's
largest abortion clinic, Dr. Nathanson came to believe that he was
killing little people. ("Aborting America", Dr. Bernard Nathanson,
Doubleday, Garden City NY, 1979, p.193).

   The federal government listed only 160 maternal deaths from abortion
in 1967. ("Never to Live, Laugh or Love", Right To Life League of So.
Cal., 1616 W. Green St., Suite 220, Los Angeles CA, 90015).

   Now that abortion is legal, women still die. Abortion is the sixth
most common cause of maternal death. (Journal of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, 5/85.)

   In 1981, French women had about 80,000 illegal abortions, and more
than 180,000 legal ones. (The Plain Truth Magazine, 300 W. Green St.,
Pasadena, CA 91123, 5/85.)

   PREGNANCY SUICIDES

   Suicide among pregnant women is almost unknown. In Minnesota, in a
15 year period, there were only 14 maternal suicides. 11 occurred after
delivery. None were illegitimately pregnant. All were psychotic. (Life
or Death pamphlet, Hayes Publishing Co., Cincinnati, OH 45224).

   CHILD ABUSE 

   Child abuse increased drastically with the legalization of abortion,
reflecting the loss of respect for children. In 1972 there were 60,000
reported child abuse incidents in the United States. By 1976 the number
had soared to over 500,000! Child Abuse is now the fifth most frequent
cause of death among children. (Francis Shaeffer and Dr. C. Everett
Koop, "Whatever Happened to the Human Race?", Crossway Books,
Westchester, IL.)

   Studies show that mothers who have had an abortion are more likely
to abuse their children. Also, women who abuse their children are more
likely to have abortions. ("A Consideration of Abortion Survivors",
Philip G. Ney, Child Psychiatry and Human Development, vol 13, #3,
Spring 1983, p.172).

   A study by Dr. Edward Lenoski of the University of Southern
California has shown that 91% of battered children were planned
pregnancies. (Life or Death pamphlet, Hayes Publishing, Cincinnati, OH).

   QUALITY OF LIFE: BIRTH DEFECTS 

   Well documented studies have shown that there is no difference
between handicapped and normal persons in their personal degree of life
satisfaction, outlook of what lies ahead, and vulnerability to
frustra-tion. (Paul Cameron & D. Van Hoeck, American Psychologic Assn.
Meeting, 1971), (Life or Death pamphlet, Hayes Publishing Co.,
Cincinnati, OH)

   Dr. C. Everett Koop, Surgeon General of the United States questioned
whether no life was better than a life of low quality. He decided that
the person to ask is the individual who has a disabling birth defect.
His interviews returned comments like: "Because the start was a little
abnormal, it doesn't mean you're going to finish that way. I'm a
normal, functioning human being..." "At times it got very hard, but
life is certainly worth living." "I really think that all my operations
and all the things I had wrong with me were worth it, because I really
enjoy life and I don't really let the things that are wrong with me
bother me..." ("Whatever Happened to the Human Race", Francis Shaeffer
& C. Everett Koop, Crossway Books, Westchester, IL.)

   "Science cannot tell us what value to give to each human life." (US
Congress, Senate, Subcommittee on Separation of Powers, 'Report to the
Committee on the Judiciary Regarding the Human Life Bill- S.158, 97th
Congress, 1st Session, p.3).

   NEURAL TUBE DEFECT TEST

   Spina bifida is a birth defect in which the child's spinal chord is
partially exposed. It occurs to different degrees and is often
correct-able. A nueral tube defect (NTD) test is an attempt to identify
spina bifida in the fetus by inserting a needle into the amniotic sac,
withdrawing and analyzing the fluid. In addition to the test's proven
inaccuracies, it causes hazards to the child and mother. It can cause
spontaneous miscarriage, infant death, or injury to the child.
Statistics show that 26 out of 100,000 fetuses die from the
amniocentesis procedure, as compared to 22 out of 100,000 fetuses which
will have spina bifida. In addition to this data, studies by Dr.
LaJeune, world renown geneticist, has shown that NTD's are not genetic
but are related to a vitamin deficiancy. Another English study showed
an 88% decrease in NTD due to proper vitamin supplements.

   Most important to the issue of NTD testing is the question "Why test
the fetus for defects?". A eugenics mentality of 'superior' and
'inferior' human life is at the heart of this issue. It aims to kill
the handicapped. (Testimony by Olga Fairfax, Ph.D. at Alpha-
Fetoprotein Hearings, Food and Drug Administration, Washington D.C.,
1981).

   A witness at the Washington D.C. Alpha-Fetoprotein (NTD) screenings
introduced himself: "I'm a professor... I've been married 25 years. I
have 3 perfect children, a Ph.D.... and I have spina bifida." Other
accomplished people who had spina bifida testafied.

   FOR MORE INFORMATION 

   Americans Against Abortion Box 70 Lindale, TX 75771-0070

   Christian Action Council 701 W. Broad St. Suite 405 Falls Church, VA
22046

   The Rutherford Institute Box 510 Manassas, VA 22110

   Right To Life League of So. Ca. 1616 W. 9th Street, Suite 220 Los
Angeles, CA 90015

   California pro-life legislation hotline. 1-800-992-VOTE

   James & Joan Werning 
