Candidate positions on abortion important

Thanks to the Daily Herald for profiling the GOP candidates for office in the Illinois 14th district. It is good for our country to have choice of candidates when we vote, even the candidate who states that "the idea of reproductive rights for women are [sic] illogical and morally questionable."

Anti-choice believers who want to pass and enforce laws forbidding abortion need to be prepared to build more prisons for women and their health care providers. Women are not going to endure forced pregnancies. The need for abortion is not new. Early Egyptians prescribed abortifacients for unwanted pregnancies. The Catholic Church has an evolving doctrine historically allowing abortion until quickening or until a soul was present, which occurred later than conception. Now over the counter prescriptions and Plan B options are allowing abortion to be private and very early.

Women's personal stories govern their abilities and desires to be pregnant. Let's respect women and work for early and inclusive sex education, affordable contraception, safe and affordable child care and family leave and health care that is safe and available if termination is a woman's choice. As feminist Florence Kennedy said, "If men could get pregnant abortion would be a sacrament."

Julie Sass

Elk Grove Village