Anti-abortion View on March for Women's Lives
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Beverly LaHaye Institute
Friday, April 23, 2004; 10:00 a.m. ET
The March for Women's Lives takes place this Sunday, April 25th on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The rally is a reproductive rights movement involving several women's rights and civil rights organizations.
Join Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D., executive director and senior fellow of the Beverly LaHaye Institute associated with Concerned Women for America, to discuss this weekend's rally and the anti-abortion movement. She will be online Friday, April 23 at 10 a.m. ET.
Submit your questions and comments before or during today's discussion.
Dr. Crouse is a former Bush Presidential Speech Writer and has authored "Gaining Ground: A Profile of Women in the Twentieth Century." She also co-authored a recently released book, "A Different Kind of Strength: Rediscovering the Power of Being a Woman with Beverly LaHaye." She is a public speaker at many conferences and has been published in numerous newspapers and magazines - including The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Insight, USA Today, Christianity Today, Marriage Partnership and Family Voice. She has also been interviewed on numerous national radio and television programs, including C-Span, CNN, American Family Radio, USA Radio Network, Family News in Focus, Time America and Weekend Magazine.
Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Hi! Glad you are taking the time to log in today. This should be a good hour of productive exchange of ideas. I look forward to hearing from you and "talking" with you. The abortion march is Sunday and it is being billed -- euphemistically -- as a march for women's lives. To get a crowd the sponsors have had to broaden the appeal to anti-war and anti-Bush demonstrators. To me, this indicates that the march is out-of-step with where American women are today.
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Upper Marlboro, Md.:
What do you think, if any, is the underlying reason why other women are so against abortions?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Because abortion is harmful to women -- the more scientific data comes in, the more apparent it is that abortion causes many women to suffer physical as well as emotional and psychological harm. And, of course, the unborn child is irreparably and irreversably harmed when its potential life is ended.
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Washington, D.C.:
You are fighting to make sure that all pregnant women are coerced, whether they want to be or not, into continuing a 9-month, 24/7 donation of the use of their body, their organ systems and their blood supply, which poses risks to their health and possibly even their lives, because the fetus's "right to life" is more important than a woman's right to decide whether she wishes to keep making this donation.
Are you also in favor of coercing eligible donors into a much smaller bodily investment, at the cost merely of a pin prick, an hour and an easily-replaced pint of blood, that can and will just as surely save the life of a born human? Is a born human's right to live less important than another's wish not to donate blood, for no more reason than that it's not convenient to do so? If so, then why are born humans less valuable than fetal humans, who have, in your view, the right to preserve their lives by demanding a much greater bodily donation from other humans?
Or is it that pregnant women become subhuman incubating machines on conception, and lose their right to determine on a continuing basis who may and who may not use their body and their body parts, a right the rest of us have and take for granted?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: No one coerced that woman into conceiving a child -- even if she was coerced into sex, the fact that she conceived is an "act of God" and thus can be a blessing if she chooses to view it that way. I could spend this whole hour listing women who had babies they didn't plan who turned into the greatest gift they ever got. I could spend another whole hour listing children who were not "wanted" who became major contributors to society. AND, WE COULD ALL SPEND ANOTHER HOUR LISTING PEOPLE WE KNOW WHO ARE LONGING TO HAVE JUST ONE OF THOSE CHILDREN SOMEONE ABORTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE THE PRECIOUSNESS OF THAT CHILD.
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Arlington, Va.:
Isn't it misleading and deceptive to call it the "march for women's lives" when abortion is almost always an elective procedure?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: You nailed it right on the head. I am offended by the whole "spin" of "march for women's lives." No one has produced any evidence whatsoever that women's lives are at stake. As a matter of face, pro-abortion rhetoric focuses on the danger of "back-alley" abortions, but legalized abortion is NOT SAFE. Abortion is four times deadlier than childbirth.
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Harrisburg, Pa.:
How long did you serve as a Bush speech writer, and what type speeches did you write? Did you focus on writing about abortion and womens issues, or did you write about a broader spectrum of issues?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: I wrote primarily on domestic issues and I also edited the Welfare Reform White Paper. I did not write at all about abortion or women's issues. I did write on some international issues. I was there during the last year of the first Bush presidency; someone there saw my writing on domestic issues while I served as a speech writer for Dr. Louis Sullivan, Secretary of Health and Human Services. Dr. Sullivan was extraordinarily effective in utilizing the bully pulpit about the breakdown of the Black family in America and the need to rebuild a "culture of character" in our nation. I think that is what brought me to the White House at that time.
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Lyme, Conn.:
I fear that, while abortion is terrible and should be prevented, when a woman makes a decision to have an abortion, she has made a very strong and personal decision. Why would it be better for such a woman to have to get a risky illegal abortion as opposed to getting a safer legal abortion?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: She shouldn't do either. She should talk to a crisis pregnancy center where she would learn that there are other options that are better for her and certainly better for her child.
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Oakton, Va.:
Ms. Crouse -
What about women who become pregnant through rape or incest or who have been abandoned by their partners when they become pregnant? Couldn't one argue that having a baby in these circumstances (with all social stigmas attached) could also cause emotional and physical trauma?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: An adoptive parent could care less about the circumstances of the child's conception. Give that precious child to a family longing to raise the infant in a cherished and nurturing environment so that he or she will grow up to be a productive citizen.
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Washington, D.C.:
Dr. Crouse, is the "physical as well as emotional and psychological harm" that you say associated with abortion short-term or long-term?
If it is long-term, are most women affected by it, or is it a minority?
If most women are affected by this harm long-term, can you cite any studies or journal articles that support your statement?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Go on our website -- www.cwfa.org and see the abortion fact sheet -- there is a two-page fact sheet with a summary of some of the recent research providing specific information that answers your question.
I sat in church recently behind two women who were from a rehabilitation home that is across the street from our church. The lady from a crisis pregnancy center was talking about their services and mentioned that often it takes 5-10 years for women to recognize that their problems stem from a previous abortion. The two women in front of me began nodding their heads vigorously and went up afterward to talk with the woman who spoke. I asked if I could listen in -- they had both had several abortions and said the impact was dramatic, but it took them years to realize the connection. That is confirmed in the research I've seen.
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Annandale, Va.:
Dr. Crouse,
While I believe in equal rights for women, I also believe that the current women's movement has evolved into a severe liberal cause promotion that invokes a dislike of masculinity. Do you disagree?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: I could not agree more. I wrote a conservative critique of feminism and presented the paper at Princeton University. I gave credit to early feminism for providing equal opportunity for women, but said that somewhere along the line the movement was hijacked by special interests who focused exclusively on abortion, lesbianism and hatred of males. I think that agenda moved the movement away from mainstream women and isolated feminism to a group of devotees who are completely out of touch with real life, real America and real women.
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Atlanta, Ga.:
How can a group--- like many of those sponsoring the march and that claim to speak for women and their welfare ---support abortion and mock stay-at-home moms, knowing the majority of women would prefer to give their babies life and stay home to raise them?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: They only talk with each other and have no idea how out of touch they are! The good news is that young women are not fooled. The polls of young women indicate that they are increasing pro-life -- UCLA did a study of 400 colleges and found the freshmen are 10 percentage points lower in their support of abortion than a decade ago. And, less than 50% of the population in general supports abortion.
Also, more and more women are choosing to forego the fast track and raise their children themselves -- working part-time and taking some time away from career to raise their children before going back.
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McLean, Va.:
Why can't conservatives mind their own business and get out of our bedrooms and our clinics?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Because liberals are out there sticking their faces into our values and mocking our beliefs and forcing their values into the law books through judicial tyrants because they cannot convince mainstream America that their foolishness makes sense.
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Washington, D.C.:
Thanks for coming online for the chat to share your pro-life views and let others know they're not alone. I have to actually thank the March for Murder this weekend -- it got me so upset and mad that it's mobilized me to participate in the March for Life in January, something I never would've considered before.
It really bothers me when people use the "there are too many sick and unwanted children out there" to justify abortion. I was an "unwanted" child (literally left on the doorstep of an orphanage with my twin sister), and I turned out just fine -- grad degree, well-paying professional job, about to get married, among other accomplishments. Yet pro-choicers dare to make an assumption on the quality of my "unwanted" life and surmise that I would've been better off aborted! Had my birth mother chosen abortion, my adoptive parents would've been deprived of their only children, and my fiance would've been deprived of his future wife, children, and grandchildren.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Thanks for your story. My niece just adopted a beautiful little girl after years of longing for a child and we are so happy for her and I know that little girl will have a wonderful life and she will be loved and cherished in a way that will bring tears to the eyes of her birthmother every time she thinks of the wonderful gift she gave to little HEZ.
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Washington, D.C.:
As a PR executive, I've noticed that the anti-abortion movement has transitioned from a "save the children" theme to "save the women" theme, presumably to match pro-choice advocates' exclusive focus on women's, and not fetuses', lives.
How successful has this strategy been for your movement?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Well, I just totally dislike the whole spin of "pro-choice" and "march for women's lives" -- putting a positive tone on such gut-wrenching decisions is horribly unfair and unjust to women who find themselves in a crisis pregnancy. What they need is truth and love and understanding -- not quick fixes that gloss over the pain and leave a festering sore.
And the focus on "women" rather than the baby is typical of the self-centeredness of today's feminism. They have forgotten about relationship and the importance of connectedness and community -- for them, it seems, it is all about what is best for the BIG ME!
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Anonymous:
You say abortion is harmful to women. Wouldn't you agree, however, that illegal abortion is more harmful than legal abortion? My mother knew women in college, who, before abortion was legal, ended up killing themselved while attempting to terminate their pregnancies. I believe a woman set on ending her pregnancy will do it no matter what the law says (I know I would at this point in my life!). If it's legal, she can get it done safely with minimal damage to her health. Comments?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Women who get this emotional and irrational have problems deeper than an unplanned pregnancy. I would be willing to bet (if I were a betting person) that those are the women who end up with repeated abortions.
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Wadswroth, Ill.:
It is interesting to me that your answers to the (of course) unanswerable questions of serious personal choices where the decision does not agree with yours, fall back on religion -- your religion. This is a rather flambouyant stance that is untenable to those who do not share your religious views. If you remove religion from your rhetoric, what are your reasons for telling another person what they can or can't do with their own body on this issue? In particular where the issue is one of comfort/life/safety of the living human vs the "potential life"?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: I haven't mentioned religion a single time this morning.
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Washington, D.C.:
As a fairly young woman (28) who opposes abortion, I can tell you why I do so. I believe conceived life is human and therefore to abort it would be killing. I believe the rights of this new life supercede any "right" of the woman or man to decide for abortion. I believe that abortion is frequently used as social birth control by both men and women who disregard the consequences of their decisions to have sex. If there's any "choice" involved, it's the choice to engage in sexual activity (except obviously for those who have been raped or are the victims of incest, etc.). And to anticipate any further questions, I'm against the death penalty and am vegan.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Thanks for your remarks!
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Washington, DC:
If you could write the abortion laws, what would they say?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: If I could call the shots, I'd make abortion illegal.
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Laurel, Md:
Have you ever heard a logical/moral explanation from "pro-choicers" for their beliefs, i.e.:
If you want a baby, whatever is in the womb is a baby, a child.
If you do not want a baby, it's a fetus, a conglomeration of cells.
Also, don't "pro-choicers" realize that trimesters are only contrived measures of time for development, and not degrees of humanity.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: I love your comment -- wish I had said that! Great insight!
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Alexandria, Va.:
I can't believe when I clicked on the Post "Women's March" that the only Live Online was by an anti-choice opinion? Where is the live on line for the pro-choice side of the issue? washingtonpost.com:
Transcript: Gloria Feldt, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. was online to talk about this weekend's 'March for Women's Lives' rally and her new book, "The War on Choice." (Live Online, April 22)
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: It's about time the pro-life folks had some time -- just to themselves. Haven't you noticed that it is always "balanced" when there is a conservative present, but when a liberal is featured there doesn't seem to be a recognition of the need for balance!
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Re: Giving up a child:
Isn't that a little idealistic to try and expect people to go against human nature and do something that selfless? To put their body through 9 months of odd changes and stress, childbirth, and then the lifetime worrying what's happening to the child they gave up to make someone else happy? The women I know who've had abortions all seem far less "damaged" than the 2 I know that gave their babies up for adoption - physically and mentally/emotionally.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: What about the babies? Anybody asked them?
How about a little self-control and self-discipline when it comes to having sex? And, worrying about this situation BEFORE sleeping with someone. I know people whose response is -- "but I wouldn't dream of marrying that guy." I say, "How in the world can you sleep with someone who is unworthy to marry?????!!!!"
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Washington, D.C.:
You mentioned the number of couples looking to
adopt. What about children already "in the
system?" Do you know of any anti-abortion
groups working to promote adoption of these
seemingly unwanted children?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: One of the best is Bethany Christian Services -- they are on the web. There are others; I just happen to know them because relatives used their services and loved the personal approach and the fact that they could communicate with the birth mother (anonymously).
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Oakton, Va.:
You did mention religion when you said that any child, no matter how they were conceived, was a blessing from God. I noticed that, too.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: OOPs -- guess I did -- in some peoples' view.
I don't consider that "religion." I consider that a statement of fact. How in the world could you NOT consider a child a blessing? I don't know anyone who doesn't smile at seeing a baby. At the mall, on the street, everywhere, you see people stop and smile when someone goes by with an infant. We have absolutely NO CONTROL over whether an act of sex produces a child -- when it does, it is a miracle. Notice that on television in the last couple of years there is a whole rash of new programs showing births (explain that!) and it amazes me that people want to see that miracle take place, even when it is strangers who are experiencing the miracle.
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Sewell, NJ:
Dr. Crouse, what is your Ph.D. in?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Communication Theory.
My undergraduate degree is from Asbury College in English and Speech.
MA is from Purdue in Rhetoric and Public Address (minors in Radio and Television and Oral Interpretation of Literature)
PH.D. is from State University of New York in Buffalo in Communication Theory with cognates in organizational communication, interpersonal communication and leadership studies.
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Wadsworth, Ill.:
I was raped and had an abortion -- what self-discipline are you talking about?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Please accept my sympathy for your situation. I cannot imagine the horror of rape and apologize for inadvertantly adding to your pain. However, my comment about the pregnancy stands. Had I had the opportunity to put my arms around you and hug you afterwards and help you work your way through that horrible experience, I would have encouraged you to give your child the opportunity to bring joy to a childless couple so that something good could come out of your experience. It is too late for that, of course, so I hope that you are working through your emotions and that you are finding help with that process. My prayers are with you (if I may insert my faith at this point).
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Washington, D.C.:
In response to the person who commented on giving a child up for adoption: as someone who is adopted, it's extraordinarily distasteful to hear that my life was not worth 9 months of "suffering" for my birth mother. I can tell you that this adoptee is extremely grateful to her birth parents for making the selfless "choice" they did.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Thank you so much for this comment
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Washington, D.C.:
With all due respect, Dr. Crouse, many of your answers display an amazement that other people do not think, feel, and act as you do.
While liberals are certainly guilty of this as well, they generally do not seek to restrict others' rights because of it. (Of course they have a love-hate relationship with the First Amendment, but that's a chat for another day...)
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Excuse me -- I am no more amazed at other people's disagreement with me than they are with my disagreement with them. In fact, I have worked with liberals constantly in my job throughout my career and find that usually I am far more open-minded.
Explain to me how the liberals didn't restrict the right to have the 10 commandments displayed or any Christian symbols displayed at Christmas time -- as you note with the 1st amendment comment :-)
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Lexington, Ky.:
One hates that the abortion issue is tied to economic issues, but unfortunately it is. I'm sure there cases in which a woman would forego an abortion if she knew she had a good job, that would insure her child had a good future. I would really like to see all the money spent on anti-choice efforts go to helping young people (male, feamle, pregnant or not) find good jobs with a future.
How about spending anti-choice money on research for a fail-proof birth control method? Then fewer abortions would be necessary.
As for forcing women to carry a fetus to term because there are a lot of infertile people who would want a baby--I say that it's more cruel to a woman to rip a newborn from her arms and for her to have to pretend she never gave birth. Both abortion and giving up a child for adoption are difficult choices-- but it seems crueler to the woman to feel forced to give up a child for adoption rather than make the choice to abort early in the pregnancy.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Pro-Life people work tirelessly to help women who are in crisis pregnancies and they "hang-in" there with them through the whole 9 months -- giving baby showers and helping them with medical expenses -- and later helping them move on -- whether after adoption or if they keep the child.
Again, your response is all about the woman!
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Arlington, Va.:
Dr. Crouse,
Thanks for taking my question. I consider myself to be very sound in my morals, family and community oriented. However, it feels and sounds like to me that because I want to decide and take control of decisions that pertain to my body I am some how a deviant in your mind and many conservatives. I find this to be very discouraging and very telling as to how deeply divided this country is on abortion and women's rights.
Why do you and other people feel that it is acceptable or your right to strip me(if I so elected) or other women of the basic human right to control the health and maintance of their body?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Yes, the country is deeply divided, but less so than at any time in the past decade. As the science comes on, the pro-life case grows stronger. The more sophisticated the sonograms and the more available the scientific data, the harder it is to avert our eyes from the facts about conception.
It is not, in my opinion, a matter of your right -- or any other woman's right -- to control her health or the maintenance of her body. That is a euphemism. Pregnancy is not a disease.
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Centreville, Va.:
Do you think that the pro-lifer's will be violent at Sunday's march?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: My question is whether the pro-abortion people will be violent. They have sent out press releases saying that if pro-life signs are disagreeable just go up and spray paint them.
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Washington, D.C.:
It is called March for Women's Lives because it seeks to highlight other issues that pertain to the health and well being of women, including preventative planning, US aid to international organizations that council women all over the world and provide health services (whose funding is now being "gagged" by Bush because in addition to those services they also perform abortions) and HIV testing. If that is not concern about women's lives, I don't know what is, it is not about a one sided issue, it is about a multi-layered approach to defend women's health and rights in the US and the world, which right now is being slowly dismantled by the Bush administration.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Come on -- that is a way to get people there -- they can't marshall a crowd for abortion. They have lost the grass roots and they have to try to cloak their views in "women's health" and such like or they are down the tubes.
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Anonymous:
Re: liberal restrictions on 10 commandments/etc -- Separation of Church and state is in the constitution - despite what certain elected officials and normal folk like to believe - just a friendly reminder.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: That's your opinion and there are numerous legal scholars who disagree. I'm not an expert on law so don't know -- all I know is that there are all sorts of things in the public square that I wouldn't choose to have there, but no one considers those things "separation of church and state."
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Rochester, N.Y.:
how many abortions are there each year in the US? and how many people are on adoption waiting lists?
if all abortions ended, will the adopters be able to handle the massive wave?
please don't say somethign like "more adopters will be found" -- sounds a little too much like "we'll be greeted as liberators" or "we can give tax cuts to the rich and still balance the budget."
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Over a million a year -- and yes there are plenty of people waiting for adoptees.
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Vienna, Va.:
In regards to your comment about being offended by the whole "spin" of the "march for women's lives" and that "No one has produced any evidence whatsoever that women's lives are at stake" -- It's NOT a spin. It's a march for women's lives that need to be saved because they are restricted from having reproductive rights like access to birth control, sex education, OR the choice to not have their genitals mutiliated. Abortion is simply one of many procedures that the women who will be marching believe is integral to supporting these reproductive rights. And it's very easy to gain access to the "evidence" that you seek -- try the websites for USAID, the World Health Organization, etc.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Come on -- some of the feminists are advocating for female genital mutilation and to throw that in here is not playing fair! Some of these arguments that are being used are turning into demagogery and make the whole feminist movement sound desperate.
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Maryland:
My husband and I do not want children. As such, we have taken steps (short of abstinence) to make sure I do not conceive. However, even the best family planning can fail. In that case - abortion, albeit with a heavy heart. I do not want to subject my body to a nine month pregnancy.
So, why do you feel you can make this critical decision for us? Believe me - my decision is an educated one! I have read up on the subject both pro and con. Since you are so opposed to abortion, simply don't have one yourself. There - now you have made your decision and I have made mine.
As for it being an "act of God" that I should conceive despite the best planning.... Please remember that this is a secular nation and theology should not drive our public policy.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: I take it you haven't conceived yet -- I'm guessing you are a very educated person -- certainly very intelligent and seems to me like you are taking every precaution. I would hate to see you have an abortion, but that is your decision to make as long as the law is as it is.
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Logan Circle, DC:
Wouldn't it be more productive to try to convince people of your views as opposed to choosing judges based solely on their abortion views or other such tactics?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Actually, we have convinced people of our views. Truth is one the pro-life side and science is proving our case. As soon as science began giving people access to information, the tide began to turn and now polls consistently show the American public and increasing more pro-life. I am convinced that this trend will continue because solid information is available on the internet and young people are deciding for themselves. Also I think the era of people being wishy-washy and unwilling to take a stand is coming to an end as well.
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Herndon, Va.:
Would you, or others on your side, be open to a compromise? Say, through legislation (not the courts), allow abortions in the first trimester only and require prior counseling.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: No
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Washington, DC:
Does it occur to you that women who support the right to choose may not choose to have an abortion themselves if faced with the decision? These women believe it is more important to allow for individual choice than forcing the entire population to conform to one set of "moral values."
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: I know plenty of women who hold this position.
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Washington, DC:
Ms. Crouse, your response to Oakton depicts that adoptive parents would take any child regardless of the circumstances of the child’s conception. Unfortunately this is not the case. In poverty stricken communities where teenage pregnancy is the highest there are many cases where children born with diseases and disabilities due to drug use by the mother while pregnant are not easily adopted. There is also a direct correlation with teenage pregnancy and the continuation of poverty. How can we as a society solve these issues without trying to push abstinence, which has not and will not work? I don’t think that abortion is a solution but I also do not think it should be banned.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Abstinence does work and evaluation programs are now coming in that prove that abstinence programs work.
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Washington, DC:
The choices you make that are right for you are not necessarily the choices that are right for me. I'm sure there are many women (myself included) who have had an abortion and have never regretted it. Since I do not fall into the category of people who suffer emotional or physical trauma because of this, why should someone be able to tell me what I can and cannot do with my body?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: You are right -- there are women who do not suffer ill effects, but plenty do. All women need to know the risk that they are taking. Unfortunately, many of the abortion services DO NOT inform women adequately. They are for-profit organizations and they make plenty of profit.
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Washington, DC:
Dr. C.:
You have yet to make a compelling argument against why it's wrong to advocate for safe pre-natal care, access to birth control, and sex education, which are all important women's health issues. Stop skirting the issue.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Excuse me -- when did this come up as an issue this morning?
I certainly would not argue against any of this. It is patently unfair for the abortion crowd to throw all of this in a muddy the water with their "march for women's lives" so that nobody knows that the crux of the march is for abortion.
They are the ones who are skirting the issue!!!!
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Adelphi, Maryland:
Rich women have had safe, medically supervised abortions since the turn of the century, while abortions for poor and middle class women were were performed in bathtubs and backrooms by potential butchers. Abortion's will always be performed on women of all economic strata because of the demand. So, why do conservatives want lower income women to suffer and to die by outlawing a medically safe procedure?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Give me break -- what a hackneyed argument -- "conservatives want to kill poor women and all conservatives are rich -- while liberals are all for the poor."
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Annapolis, MD:
What are your feelings on the need to promote use of condoms and teaching of sexual education to teenagers?
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.: Teach abstinence -- clearly and unequivocally.
Give teens the truth about the benefits of self-control and self-discipline. Those are important qualities all through life and they are capable of developing them -- even as teens with raging hormones.
Then also teach being faithful.
If a teenager is unwilling or unable to be abstinent and unwilling to listen to reason -- after counselling and good guidance, condoms are a final resort (reluctantly and giving them the full information about 85% reliability and the fact that they must be used consistently and correctly and that they don't protect against some STDs)
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Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D.:
Thank you for being on-line today. I thoroughly enjoy the "chat" and hope that you did, too. I would like to stay on longer, but have another appointment so must go even though there are lots of other questions. Thanks again for the opportunity to get to know you a bit. Have a great weekend! Janice
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