Clarifying a point about abortion

Mr. William Beckman amazes me with his lack of astuteness. Nowhere in my letter did I mention “abortion.” He says “I try to suggest” the Catholic Church once allowed abortion up to “quickening.” Wrong! Read my letter again. I personally don’t believe in abortion except in cases of rape or incest, but I do believe in free will. I explained that up to 300 years ago the church accepted the movement of a child in the womb as the first sign of life.

When the church adopted this “soul at conception” stance, it ignored the teachings of its greatest theologians. As a result, terminating a pregnancy from a rape or incest is considered murder, as is the medical decision to save the life of a mother with a needed abortion.

Two years ago a raped 10-year-old girl in Brazil became pregnant. Doctors said the pregnancy must be terminated for the health of the child. The local bishop said “no.” When the doctors went ahead and performed the abortion, they were excommunicated.

Mayo Clinic states a heartbeat is detected in the fifth week of a pregnancy. Brain waves are detected in the sixth week. Mr. Beckman claims my statistic is wrong that 98 percent of Catholic women have used contraception. A survey 40 years ago by the U.S. Department of Health revealed 85 percent of all Catholic women used contraception. The percentage has steadily increased to 98 percent, as reported in a story by Reuters on April 13, 2011.

Mr. Beckman’s group is noted for its one-sided approach to this issue. The Guttmacher Institute, which he chastises, compiled this research on Catholic women. This institute has been recognized numerous times in the past for its research by the World Health Organization, an arm of the United Nations.

Robert Harrison

Elk Grove Village