AIBU to ask how much support Pro-Life believers provide for actual children in need? Texas just banned abortion in the US.

[thecranberries]

AIBU to ask what Pro Life 'supporters' do to actually help living children in need? Sparked by Rachel Maddow Show Podcast on MSNBC - which gives a brilliant coverage on what's going on.

PL seems to want to stop a woman's right to choose, even in instances of rape or incest. That's in Texas, US, but as we know, many of the 'trends' that start in the US migrate over here. And as we know, there are lots of Pro-Life (read anti abortion, anti women) believers over here.

So, my AIBU is to ask - what do these PL do to actually support actual living children in need in this country or the world? How much do they give to UNICEF/Save the Children etc charities? How much do they donate time, money and resources to actual children living in poverty, bad housing, experiencing harm or bad schooling to ensure that these actual living children get the best life possible?

Do these PL, who cite religious grounds, actually enable women to obtain proper contraception when they need it? And speaking about religion, how many religious PL turn a blind eye to religious organisations history of child abuse?

I don't understand anyone, especially men, who does not accept a woman's right to chose what happens to her own body.

So, AIBU to ask Pro Life supporters to tell me in detail what they do - as actively as supporting their 'cause' - when it comes to helping living children in need?

It’s a really important question to ask PL’ers. How much time and money do they spend with children who are unwanted? In circumstances where the mother has reluctantly agreed to go ahead and keep the baby, how do they make sure that the child isn’t on the receiving end of emotional neglect / abuse or physical abuse and/or poverty?

It's like America is wanting to be the real life version of the handmaid's tale. If a young girl or a woman seek an abortion they should be allowed to have one providing they have understood what is going to happen and that they are okay with what is going to happen. This is what happened when I had an abortion at 12wks a few years ago. I can't get my head round the fact that in 2021 that the land of the free is being so very restrictive. It is absolutely barbaric

*But it's not just the fact that they are banning abortion after 6 weeks. It's the fact that anyone can sue someone who has had an abortion or "aided and abetted" that person. This could include doctors, nurses, taxi drivers who drive a person to the clinic, family members who take them to the clinic and any other number of people.

There has been no definition of aided and abetted.

Then if the person bringing the case proves it the victim has to pay 10,000 dollars.*

Surprise! The man who's input was required to get pregnant in the first place has no consequence.

Oh right... just not the quality of them

Or not so important that you're happy to risk their deaths in backstreet abortions...

Oh and I meant to say the list above about charities adopting babies - charities? I hope not. People adopt surely. Whether some of those people are actively engaged in the generation of these babies that are then relinquished is very uncomfortable.
Women are supported by being free to make their own decisions and a society that valued children would look after them better.

If they are forced to stay pregnant and give birth they may not want adoption anymore. Isn't that the whole point? If she has to have the child she should be able to keep it on the state's dime

Yes of course women should be supported in this way -no child should grow up in poverty.

Maybe we live in a different climate here politically but none of the other people I know who disagree with abortion (and I know lots) would disagree with this.

Most of us just think there are better solutions to poverty.

It's true, that the foetus wouldn't survive outside of the mother's body, but then a newborn wouldn't survive without an adult to take care of it. So one is of value and the other isn't, even though neither could survive independently?

It's not about 'value' - it's about a woman's right to decide what happens to her own body.

Do you believe in forced organ donation to preserve life as well?

@goinggently

Oh right... just not the quality of them

Or not so important that you're happy to risk their deaths in backstreet abortions...

I absolutely want all women to lead happy and productive lives. I work, both professionally and on a voluntary basis, with the most vulnerable in our society. Back street abortions are an absolute abomination, as is anything that would seek to benefit from the vulnerable. But would I actively support the killing of what I believe to be a life, in order to possibly improve the life of someone else? No.

I don't get why anyone would want millions of babies born into lives where they are completely unwanted and where there is no one to look after them? Who benefits from that exactly?

It's a real struggle to see how catholics can claim to have any sort of moral highground in any way. Child sexual abuse is institutionalised and covered up. Human rights abuses inflicted on young mothers in ireland... absolutely barbaric. The thought of a charity, aka an institution, adopting babies makes me cold to my core. The legislators of this new law have blood on their hands.

6 out of 9 members of the Supreme Court in the US are catholic. It's nothing short of a religiously extreme takeover and a dystopian nightmare.

And yes, encouraging people to inform on women... a 21st century witch hunt

I think the point was that some women have abortions because they are financially unable to have a child or are in an unsuitable situation. Potentially, if assured that they would have financial or practical support, some might choose to continue the pregnancy.
Obviously this wouldn't apply to all women, but if the only services provided are "Go through the trauma of birth, then hand the baby over to some nice Christian couple." then it's not great.

Agree with all of this.

@MrsSchrute then you are disingenuous and unable or unwilling to deal with reality

You can tell what's really driving American anti-abortion fanatics by the fact that they are also usually against contraception

So basically women cannot have sex unless they want to get pregnant

Medieval fucking bastards all of them

@Passmeamenuatthetottenham

I don't get why anyone would want millions of babies born into lives where they are completely unwanted and where there is no one to look after them? Who benefits from that exactly?

No one would want that. But why is the answer to kill them?

Why isn't the answer to ask why women are so disadvantaged in society in so many way? How can we make improvements to postnatal care to help women that struggle? How can we encourage men to play a more active role in their children's lives? Why aren't their harsher punishments for rape? How we can improve both the cost and quality of childcare, so that more woman are able to access work?
Why are these millions of babies you refer to so unwanted, and how can we change that?

But would I actively support the killing of what I believe to be a life, in order to possibly improve the life of someone else? No.

No one is asking you to 'actively support' abortion. No one is asking you to have an abortion, or for to even take someone to have an abortion. You can judge women who have abortions, you are free to believe they are morally inferior to you because they have an abortion.

But would do you honestly want to live in a society where a woman who is pregnant and does not want to be, does not have safe access to abortion and is forced to go through pregnancy and birth against her will? Has to go through medical procedures without her consent?

[quote goinggently]@MrsSchrute then you are disingenuous and unable or unwilling to deal with reality[/quote]
What makes you say that?
I don't believe that either of those things are true.

It is also interesting that US Pro-Lifers are also invariably enthusiastic about the death penalty, even the RC ones where the Pope has made it clear this double standard is not on.

"Sanctity of Life," not really.

Why are these millions of babies you refer to so unwanted, and how can we change that?

Huh?

Because sometimes women find themselves pregnant when they don't, for one of many reasons, want a baby.

@Passmeamenuatthetottenham

Why are these millions of babies you refer to so unwanted, and how can we change that?

Huh?

Because sometimes women find themselves pregnant when they don't, for one of many reasons, want a baby.

So why can't we help them to come to a place where they can accept the situation they are in, rather than kill their baby?

It's not a baby

So why can't we help them to come to a place where they can accept the situation they are in, rather than kill their baby?

Who is 'we'?

I am happily married with 2 children. If I were to accidentally get pregnant again I would probably consider an abortion because I do not want any more children. I do not want to put my body through it again, I do not want another young baby to look after, I do not want to pay for another child, I don't want another child on an already overpopulated planet. What do you think 'we' should be changing about my life to make me 'accept my situation' should I find myself pregnant again?

@Hemingwaycat

I believe that life begins at conception

You can believe what you want. If you want to believe in fairies and unicorns, you’re free to. Science doesn’t back up your belief though because no life begins at conception. Only a blastocyst, then an embryo and finally a foetus. It isn’t a life, is isn’t alive and before 22 weeks it has no hope in hell of surviving without the human host it lives in. The woman is, however, alive and should have autonomy over her own body.

This! 👏👏👏

Makes me wonder what these people think of a used condom full sperm? Is that throwing away potential ‘kids’?…

Or using a condom to prevent conception? Because some religions frown upon that too, because it’s gods will 🙄….which is crazy.

Or leaving one relationship to pursue another, is that not taking away the potential of a future life?….

I honestly can’t believe in this day and age that religion holds so much weight over the way people live their lives. It’s five if people don’t want to do something because of they’d beliefs but don’t try to prevent other people having abortions because of your beliefs….

@goinggently

It's not a baby

Six weeks looks like this:

@Jaysmith71

It is also interesting that US Pro-Lifers are also invariably enthusiastic about the death penalty, even the RC ones where the Pope has made it clear this double standard is not on.

"Sanctity of Life," not really.

Yes

Pro lifers are usually Old Testament Christians, that's what they use to justify the death penalty, homophobia, misogyny etc etc

It's not just a Catholic thing, if you look at the south and the bible belt where these attitudes are common, it is mostly evangelicals and Protestants

A lot of American Catholics are pretty liberal (I learned about sex and abortion in a US Catholic school) but those aren't the ones being put on the Court by Republicans

So why can't we help them to come to a place where they can accept the situation they are in, rather than kill their baby?

This is a bit simplistic when you consider the myriad of reasons women and girls choose to abort. How do you feel about termination for medical reasons?