Views on abortion, from all sides | Letters to the editor: Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022

Beware anti-abortion propaganda

Words are powerful. Words can change minds and influence policy. Words can also be misused.

Columnist Jay Ambrose writes that those who support abortion “think it is fine to kill unborn babies,” prompting visions of fully-formed toddlers being ripped from their mothers’ wombs and executed like criminals. Nothing could be further from the truth. Now another column suggests that Jesus’ advice to “love one’s neighbor as oneself” includes the gestating zygote that, if nurtured through birth, becomes what we properly identify as a baby. “What is it about that baby inside the womb,” the writer asks, “that disqualifies it from being our neighbor?” (Let me count the ways.) He then proceeds to assert that “many think it is OK to deprive the weakest, most vulnerable members of society from protection.”

Again, conscientious readers must reject the kinds of deceitful appeals that label zygotes and 15-week-old fetuses – even those with beating hearts like the animals we kill for food – as “babies” or “unborn children,” and now as “neighbors” and “members of society.” Because what we are really killing here are not babies and neighbors and members of society, but science and logic and the accurate employment of words.

Mark Haskett, Modesto

Timing is important, too

Re “Calif. Gov. Newsom, love all your neighbors – the unborn ones, too” (Page 1C, Oct.2): Professor Weikart’s column left out one important point to consider: restricting when one can get an abortion is not radical. The majority of western nations restrict abortion to the first trimester. Recent polls show that the majority of the American public do not believe access to abortion beyond the first trimester should be granted unless there is indisputable evidence that a mother’s life is in danger. While I, as a Catholic, believe abortion is intrinsically evil, I know that I do not live in a theocracy. However, to pretend that access to abortion on demand at all stages of pregnancy is the will of the people is disingenuous.

We, as a society, should be providing those faced with an unwanted pregnancy with the support and resources needed to make abortion the last choice a woman would ever make. Advances in medical science will, someday, make death in childbirth a distant memory.

The American Solidarity Party supports a pro-life-for-the-whole-life approach to this issue. Do not be fooled by tag lines on “reproductive freedom.” Protect society. Protect women. Protect life.

Leslie Shaw Klinger, Modesto

Avoiding abortion hypocrisy

Since the Dobbs decision was issued, many Central Valley Catholics have argued that they support it because they believe all life is precious, and that they support all policies protecting life. They argue that they are not motivated by religion, but by ethics. The Modesto Bee has included the letter of a local Catholic priest arguing this, while the Fresno Bee published the letter of a bishop on abortion policy.

But I have not heard one complaint from them about how the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops actively and successfully opposed a national suicide hotline in 2019, because it included LGBT resources. If these pro-life voices really valued every human life, they would be outraged over this. Pro-life Catholics who opposed helping save the lives of even those they disagree with should be silent on abortion’s legality.

Jonathan Raithel, Modesto

Respect mothers’ freedom

As Americans we have a great magnitude of freedoms. Should abortions be an exception? No, they need to be included in the freedoms we have for multiple reasons. Freedoms are significant because we are able to make decisions by ourselves without complete control. This sounds amazing, right? Well we won’t get this if we vote no on Proposition 1.

Controlling anyone with a uterus is extremely detrimental to our nation, for the present and future times. Forcing the birth of children will bring on setbacks of numerous social, economic, and cultural issues within families. The child’s future could lead to homelessness, drug abuse, addiction. These foster care systems are never guaranteed of amazing child care for all the unwanted babies that are forced to be born. Allowing abortions and providing other contraceptions as alternatives will decrease foster care.

So vote yes on Prop. 1 to prevent unwanted babies and devastated mothers.

Reese Carmona, Turlock