Pro-life, Pro-Obama

Where can you find the lowest abortion rate in the whole world? See if this answer surprises you:
Western Europe.

Douglas Kmiec

I found that figure on a website called Prolife ProObama, where I was greeted by a letter from Douglas Kmiec. And there a strong case is made that – well, obviously – pro-life voters may accomplish more for their cause by voting for Barack Obama rather than John McCain.

Douglas Kmiec is no fuzzy-headed liberal. He was Ronald Reagan’s legal counsel in the White House, also serving that role George H.W. Bush. Kmiec, a committed Roman Catholic, was dean and professor of law at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and at Notre Dame. And he’s now a professor of Constitutional Law at Pepperdine University.

And he writes:

• The most frequent reasons given by women seeking an abortion are that a child would limit ability to meet current responsibilities and that they cannot afford a child at this point in their lives.

• Unintended pregnancy has increased by 29% among poor women while decreasing 20% among higher-income women.

• Women below the federal poverty level have abortion rates almost four times those of higher-income women.

Strange, eh? Abortion generally is slowing in the USA. So why would it be soaring among poor women?

Over at  God’s Politics, I came across Tony Campolo on the same subject:

More than 60 percent of all abortions are economically driven.  The reality is that without provisions for hospital coverage; pre- and post-natal care; maternity leave so that a woman giving birth will not lose her job; and nursing assistance to help single mothers transition into parenthood, millions of women who want to carry their pregnancies to term will not do so.

There you go.  Most women who have abortions do so because they’re afraid they don’t have enough money to raise a child:
“If I add another to the family, will I lose my hope of sending the ones I have to college?”
“If my boss finds out I’m pregnant, will I lose my job?”
“Will my children be homeless?”

Some of my conservative friends would argue that her situation is her own fault (though I never could understand how a follower of Jesus Christ could talk that way) and it isn’t the baby’s fault, so abortion should still be prevented by law.

Let’s say they’re right. Let’s say we elect John McCain and trust him to pack the Supreme Court with conservative judges, and they overturn Roe. What do we get? Not what you might think.

More from Douglas Kmiec:

• Overturning Roe Vs. Wade … would not end abortion in the United States, it would simply send the decision to the states.

• If states with more than 45% “pro-life” sentiment chose to outlaw abortion, this would only impact 16 states accounting for 10% of abortions nationwide […]

• Women in these 16 states would still be able to travel to seek an abortion in another state, or seek an illegal abortion, making the impact likely less than a 10% reduction in abortions nation-wide […]

Conflict

Ten percent reduction. After four decades of waiting and thousands of pitched battles and vast alienation in our nation, you might get 10% fewer abortions.

But I have another question for you:

Is Roe going to be overturned? Consider history.  As an anonymous blog commenter wrote two years ago:

• Roe v. Wade has been upheld by a majority of Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices for the last 33 years … not surprising given the fact that […]

• Six of the seven justices who voted in support of Roe v. Wade were appointed by Republican presidents.

• Republican congresses–including the recent rubber-stamp congress–have done absolutely nothing to overturn Roe […] With Republicans in control of the entire government: both houses of congress, the Supreme Court and the White House, it would seem to [have been] the perfect opportunity […]

• Since the Roe. v. Wade decision of 1973, Republican-appointed justices have always been in the majority by a margin of at least 7-2.

So here we are into the 4th decade, still waiting, hopes now pinned on Roberts and Alieto [sic], the newest saviors who will surely set about striking down Roe. Maybe. Sort of. In a few more decades. Or maybe not. Don’t hold your breath. Just keep voting Republican, it’s sure to work eventually.. maybe.. sort of.. *

But let’s go one step further. Supposing there were a way to make abortion completely illegal, what would we get?

Not much. Kmiec again:

• Nearly half of all abortions in the world are performed in countries that have made abortion illegal. […]

• … in Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, where abortion law is most restrictive, the regional rates are 29 and 31 per 1,000 women, respectively.

A friend of mine recently said he could never vote for a pro-choice candidate, for he believes “Even one abortion is too many!”   But outlawing abortions does not prohibit them. And it may not even reduce them.

But one thing does.

Remember western Europe, with the world’s lowest abortion rates? Guess what: There, abortion is not outlawed, and their rates are one third that of nations with restrictive laws.

Why? Back to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean:

• These countries are also much poorer than the U.S. and provide fewer social services; and a larger proportion of their population lives in poverty.

• In Western European countries, in contrast, where more [care is] provided and fewer women live in poverty, the abortion rates are consistently the lowest rates in the world.

Get the connection?

Making abortion illegal can’t be shown to decrease abortions. What most impacts the number of abortions is the economic and medical security of mothers.

It’s no secret that Sen. McCain’s approach to abortion is to appoint Supreme Court justices who might make abortion illegal someday.  Sen. Obama’s approach is to address the economic and medical security of mothers.

Which is most likely to help? Which, conservative Christian, is more like Jesus Christ?

Which brings me back to Tony Campolo:

Tony Campolo is founder of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education (EAPE) and professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University

More than 60 percent of all abortions are economically driven.  The reality is that without provisions for hospital coverage; pre- and post-natal care; maternity leave so that a woman giving birth will not lose her job; and nursing assistance to help single mothers transition into parenthood, millions of women who want to carry their pregnancies to term will not do so.

Listen to Campolo describe what’s changing in the political landscape:

I have often said that God is neither a Democrat nor a Republican.  I have contended that to make either party “The God Party” is idolatry.  … I have long called for Christians to be involved in both political parties, striving to be the “leaven” that permeates both parties with biblically-based judgments and values derived from Christian beliefs.

Taking my own advice, this year I played a part in framing the abortion plank of the Democratic Party’s platform.  I helped the party to take what some have called a “historic step” by having the party become committed to abortion reduction.

… the [Democratic] party platform now calls for these needs to be met.  It also calls for educational programs to reduce unwanted pregnancies, with room for the teaching of abstinence, and asks for government agencies to make adoptions easier.

These achievements were lauded by Democrats for Life and by the Catholic Alliance for Life.  While at the Democratic National Convention, religious leaders of other faith traditions personally thanked me for my efforts.  Even leaders of some pro-choice organizations hailed this compromise, claiming that at last they could find some common ground with pro-life advocates.

Purists, on the other hand, have had hard words for me […] [Tell me about it! – M.]

Consider these questions:  If 10 children are drowning in a swimming pool, and you can only save six of them, should you save the six? Or, should you wait until help arrives that can save them all, even if you know that the six you could save will be lost in the meantime?

Douglas Kmiec writes:

We are all called to build a culture of life – but there’s more to it than just hoping that the next Supreme Court justice somehow deals with Roe v. Wade. A bad economy is threatening to human life. Women facing the moral tragedy of abortion – are facing it, now, today – and they need a supportive community and tangible help, not condemnation. […]

[A]fter 35 years, a new approach is needed. Too many unborn lives are being lost as we wait for judges to get it right. Barack Obama’s strengthening of support for prenatal care, health care, maternity leave, and adoption will make the difference. Studies confirm it. […]

Those studies – and summaries of the related policies of the two main presidential candidates – are outlined in ProLifeProObama’s outstanding fact sheet, here.

We are all called to build a culture of life. We can dramatically reduce abortion – and bring America back together in the process – simply by putting in place a policy that reflects the central passion of Jesus: caring for the poor.

ProLife, ProObama also recommends:
National Catholic Reporter: “I’m Catholic, staunchly anti-abortion, and support Obama.” Nicholas P. Cafardi, September 30, 2008
Newsweek: The Changing Face of Abortion. Sarah Kliff, September 23, 2008
Relevant Magazine: Q & A With Barack Obama. July 1, 2008 Issue
Catholic Online: Douglas W. Kmiec: Democrats Step Toward Honoring Life in their Party Platform. August 11, 2008
National Catholic Reporter: Democratic platform shift to reduce abortions commended. Tom Roberts, August 13, 2008
America Magazine: Obama and Abortion
Huffington Post: Frank Schaeffer: Why I’m Pro-Life and Pro-Obama. February 7, 2008.

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