Lauren+R,+Katy+R

=Abortion =

 __The Facts:__  __Catholic Social Teaching:__
 * //What?//
 * Definition: Termination of Pregnancy
 * Legal Abortion is universally defined in terms of the mother's convenience or health
 * Statistics:
 * //Who?//
 * 52% of women obtaining abortions in the U.S. are younger than 25
 * 32% of women obtaining abortions are 20-24
 * 20% of women obtaining abortions are teenagers
 * 1.2% of women obtaining abortions are under the age of 15
 * //Why?//
 * //Money?//
 * Women with family incomes less than $15,000 obtain 28.7% of all abortions
 * Women with family incomes between $15,000 and $29,999 obtain 19.5% of all abortions
 * Women with family incomes between $30,000 and $59,999 obtain 38.0%
 * Women with family incomes over $60,000 obtain 13.8%
 * 16 states pay for abortions for some poor women
 * //Health?//
 * 1% of all abortions occur because of rape or incest
 * 6% of abortions occur because of potential health problems regarding either the mother or child
 * //Social Reasons?//
 * 93% of abortions occur for social reasons
 * 64.4% of abortions are performed on never-married women
 * 18.4% of abortions are performed on married women
 * 9.4% of abortions are performed on divorced women
 * //How?//
 * Consent
 * Parental Consent: some states may require that at least one parent know about the abortion for girls under 18, however, in most states women can get a judge to excuse them from this requirement
 * Informed Consent: some states require a physician to provide a woman receiving an abortion with alternatives.
 * Some physicians may call for a 24-hour wait period before performing an abortion
 * Most states do not require a woman to inform her spouse or partner of the abortion
 * The Life and Dignity of the Human Person
 * Catholic Social Teaching calls us to promote the life and dignity of each human life.
 * As Christians, we are called to be FOR human life, abortion is AGAINST human life.
 * Abortion says that young lives do not deserve the same dignity and respect as adults.
 * The Gospel of Life
 * "Abortion and euthanasia are thus crimes which no human law can claim to legitimize. There is no obligation in conscience to obey such laws; instead there is a grave and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection."
 * "To claim the right to abortion, infanticide and euthanasia, and to recognize that right in law, means to attribute to human freedom a perverse and evil significance: that of an absolute power over others and against others. This is the death of true freedom: "Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin" (Jn 8:34).

__The National Right to Life:__ Click the National Right to Life logo to be directed to the National Right to Life organization website. The National Right to Life Organization is a pro-life organization that provides information about abortion and alternatives to it.

__ Right to Life of Michigan: __
 * Interview - Rachel Miller, Office Manager/Administrative Associate
 * Right to Life of Michigan works in Lansing with lobbyists to influence legislation
 * Legislation to work against Proposal 2, which legalized embryonic stem cell research
 * Long-term legislative goal- overturn Roe v. Wade
 * Immediate legislative goals- mandate education on abortion f or women considering an abortion
 * Attend community and church events in order to educate people about abortion
 * Work with crisis pregnancy centers
 * Provide alternatives to abortion
 * Provide counseling to mothers
 * Work with mothers to meet their needs (financial, emotional, etc.)

__Proposed Solution:__
 * We believe that at the root of the problem of abortion is the lack of knowledge women have about abortions and the other options and how little involvement is required from anyone else besides the woman who is pregnant
 * Therefore, we think there should be:
 * Mandated education of women considering receiving an abortion
 * 1 week waiting period between initial request for an abortion and the performance of the abortion
 * Counseling for the mother
 * Information regarding adoption given to the mother
 * Consent of a parent, in the case of a minor receiving an abortion
 * Aid provided for women who find themselves pregnant and financially unstable