Even among people who call themselves pro-life, many are reluctant to say they’re opposed to abortion in cases of rape or incest—often out of fear of being labeled a “pro-life extremist”.
Their hesitancy is rooted in a misplaced sense of compassion for victims of these horrific crimes, and in a belief that the law should make exceptions to allow them to have abortions.
Clearly, this question does call for a response from pro-lifers: one that is truly compassionate and that does not compromise the truth.
It’s for this reason that we are releasing our newest brochure, titled, “Abortion for Victims of Rape and Incest?” which debunks the widely held belief that most victims of rape and incest who become pregnant would have abortions: on the contrary, a significant majority of these women freely choose to carry their babies to term.
The brochure also includes numerous excerpts from victims’ testimonies recorded in the invaluable book Victims and Victors: Speaking Out about their Pregnancies, Abortions, and Children Resulting from Sexual Assault, edited by Dr. David Reardon, et al.
Rape Victim Offended by Quinn’s Politicization of Sexual Assault
We will be distributing copies of this new brochure at at our protest of Personal PAC’s fundraising gala tomorrow, November 17, at 10:30 a.m. at the Chicago Hilton and Towers (Map).
At the event, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn — a Catholic who is pro-abortion — will present Personal PAC’s “Pro-Choice Leadership Award” to Jennie Goodman for her role in helping get him elected last year. Goodman, who was a victim of rape at age 18, was featured in an ad in which she attacked the pro-life position of Quinn’s challenger, Bill Brady. (The Catholic bishops of Illinois have sharply criticized Quinn for his participation in the event.)
Although she did not become pregnant, Goodman used the story of her rape to promote a pro-abortion political agenda.
Contrast Goodman with another victim of rape, who has a very different story to tell.
In conjunction with the League’s protest, a rape victim who did become pregnant, Mary Higgins, will be outside the Chicago Hilton and Towers to protest Goodman’s audacity in speaking about what she has not experienced.
Higgins was raped when she was 18, and faced a choice Jennie Goodman never had to make: what to do when she discovered she was pregnant with her rapist’s child.
As difficult as her situation was, Mary refused to give her unborn child the death penalty for its father’s crime. Mary chose life for her unborn daughter, and placed her for adoption. In her words: “It was the best choice I ever made.”
Sexual Assault Victims Deserve Better than Abortion
People who say victims of rape and incest need abortion haven’t asked the victims themselves—victims like Mary Higgins.
Abortion can never be a solution to the heartbreak and pain that come with rape and incest—in fact, it often makes them worse.
Victims of these crimes need and deserve need help and healing–but not abortion.
Purchase the new brochure on abortion in cases of rape and incest here.
