Even if we leave all that aside for a minute, Updike’s “no true Scotsman”-type defense was still a pretty fucking lame response.
The post that he responded to was pointing out that many women who self-identify as Catholics, and who generally consider themselves members of the Catholic Church, still have abortions. That’s something that requires a more reasoned response than simply “Well, the Church doesn’t consider them true Catholics.”
And that still doesn’t explain why abortion isn’t a responsible choice. All I can think is that you consider it an expediency, and you feel it’s necessary that the persons involved be punished for as long as possible. Please correct me if that’s not the case.
Also: unless you are able to somehow make the father gain 30-50 lbs, be out of work for at least 6 weeks, go through severe hormonal changes and a traumatic physical experience equal to childbirth, then the father isn’t going to be anywhere near under the same onus as the mother. Sorry. No matter how you slice it, it’s the woman that carries the majority of the burden.
But, in my mind, where each person stands on the “voluntary abortion” issue is immaterial. The issue should be the fact that the government is considering setting up the possiblity that a rapist can further torment his victim by being allowed visitation with the child that said victim is forced to carry.
So if you get into a car accident and are injured, should you be denied medical help? After all, that’s the chance you took. You’re just going to have to live with it.
And once again, your personal belief that having an abortion is evading responsibility does not make it so. I am, in fact, inclined to believe that your personal belief in anything is sufficient to cast doubt on it.
It is evading the responsibility of raising a child, and the physical effects of pregnancy and birth, and being able to live with that choice.
It is taking on the responsibility of the physical effects of abortion, and, depending on your beliefs, killing/removing a foetus/child/groups of cells/potential child, and being able to live with that choice.
Both also have the responsibility of making that choice, unless it is mandated one way or the other.
There is responsibility that is not taken on, correct. But to suggest that having an abortion is to avoid all responsibility is an inaccuracy.
How is it not responsible? Woman is pregnant; that’s a problem. She get an abortion, and isn’t pregnant any more; problem solved. Responsibility in action.
I don’t “suggest” otherwise. I am stating, as a woman, as a mother, as a human, and as someone who has been there, that having an abortion can be the most responsible thing to do.
Responsibility means accepting consequences for your actions. Sometimes the consequence of your actions is having to have an abortion. If you feel that’s an inadequate consequence, then there’s nothing I can say to convince you otherwise, but I pity the children you come into contact with, as you clearly see them as a fitting punishment for having sex.
Not everyone WANTS or has the capability to BE a fucking parent. Not everyone wants or even CAN go through a pregnancy. No one HAS to have an abortion, but likewise, no one HAS to have a child.