Yes, you can be anti-abortion and pro-choice

Bravo and thanks to Kim Cavill for her excellent insight on abortion. She well illustrated the bottom line, behaviorally, on why abortions should remain legal, and justified why I think there should be three, not two, ways to define attitudes on abortion. Beyond pro-choice and pro-life, there are morally opposed pro-choicers who can also be called pro-legal choice pro-lifers. These are people who dislike abortion but believe in keeping them legal for pragmatic reasons. As a nurse I know said, As a Catholic, I'm against abortion. But as an RN, I'd rather they be under the jurisdiction of the AMA than organized crime.

As a pro-choicer, I'm as enthralled by the beautiful and scientific facts of physical life that describe unborn fetuses as any pro-lifer. However, I'm against religious supremacy pushing those facts to the front of the argument, allowing them to supersede a woman's God-given right to use her free will. I'm too fond of the First Amendment for that.

Morally opposed pro-choicers, unlike anti-choicers, can answer Yes, to the following: Do you believe women are sensitive and compassionate individuals who make profound decisions conscientiously, with as much knowledge and caring as possible? Do you believe in freedom of religion? Is your own stress tolerance fairly high? Is the most frequent feeling you feel happiness, instead of anger? Are your own relationships governed by warmth and love? Are deep feelings and problems discussed easily and rationally? Are you tolerant of other points of view, and excited to learn from others who are different? Are you able to take criticism, and likely to thank others for observations that can help you grow? Are you comfortable with all of your feelings? Do you believe God is present with love, compassion, and understanding when a woman makes the abortion decision?

Diana L. Carter

Elgin