Abortion clinic

Press, 3 December 1982, Page 12

Abortion clinic

Sir, — I believe pro-abor-tionists find it very appropriate to state “life does not begin at conception." Now they can move on to say: "We can therefore dispose of this inconvenience" and try to keep a clear conscience. Who has the right to take human life or destroy the wonderful future, creation? I myself am disabled yet am very'glad my mother did not abort me. How ludicrous to say, “a child will not enjoy his future life." I agree rape is a disgusting and immoral thing, yet still, no-one has the right to suck a human being through a tube mincing it up alive. It may sound exaggerated yet that is what it is. Yours, etc.,

N. SHIVAS, Rangiora. November 26, 1982.

Sir, — The report of the Royal Commission on Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion has caused distress for many families while utterly failing to reduce the numbers of abortions. Yet even this document refutes anti-abortion misinformation. The page which R. P. Dalzell quotes also describes the foetal brain activity. Until 28 weeks it is subcortical and only after 37 weeks are sleep and wakeful states distinguishable. It says: “The real point to which arguments have been addressed is not as to when life begins, but as to the value which is to be attributed to that life, particularly in its incipient stages.” What annoys me most about the Catholic Church and its adherents is not their disrespect for scientific truthfulness, but their much more damaging concern for power above human feelings. — Yours, etc., ALAN WILKINSON. November 29, 1982.

Sir,—Human existence depends upon the principle of the right to life. If we do not hold to the principle that every life is sacred and inviolable, then no human life is sacred. People will kill for reasons of their own, will kill for advantage, will kill because they judge that the human life because it does not measure up to their own human life, or the standards which they set for human life is better not lived. I do not accept the standard that any mother has the right (o decide which member of the family she will kill. My respect for the life of others and their right to live it in security and with respect is no more than an expression of the truth that their humanity is the same as mine, that their dignity is equal with mine. — Yours, etc., COLLEEN E. M. HOWARD. November 29, 1982.

Sir,—l am not wishing to enter into the abortion-rights debate. However, what does particularly concern me is the little study being carried out about the needs, in advice, assistance, aid, of women who have had abortions. Any statistics dealing

with numbers of abortions indicate an alarming incidence of “repeats" — that is women who have had an abortion in the past have a greater than “normal" chance of having another. A great deal of work and study is carried out with the victims of cardiac illnesses, hypertension, alcoholism and obvious physical handicaps. All of these problems are predominantly male problems. Abortion, like rape, is overwhelmingly a female problem. Certainly there are bodies set up to deal with “women’s problems,” but is it not strange that so many of them run on a voluntary basis as an alternative to the national services as a result of badly felt needs? — Yours, etc.. DIANE MOFFATT. December 1, 1982.