Back candidate who supports parental involvement

As a parent, I'm deeply troubled by Sean Casten's opposition to parental involvement laws. As we see increasing reports of the abuse of children by adults, the importance of these common sense regulations for protecting minor girls can't be overstated. Parental involvement laws require that a parent or legal guardian is notified if their minor daughter is seeking an abortion before the procedure is completed.

These laws prevent sexual predators from using abortion to conceal evidence of their crimes against minor girls. Studies show that most teen pregnancies are fathered by men older than 20. Typically, the younger the girl, the older the man abusing her. These men often take their victims across state lines for secret abortions to circumvent parental involvement laws.

For other medical procedures on minors, the parent or legal guardian must give consent. The standard should be no different with abortion, particularly because abortion can lead to physical, emotional, and psychological complications following the procedure. Sean Casten apparently doesn't understand these complications, as he compared abortion to gallbladder surgery. But how can a parent best help their child if they aren't included in decisions made in crisis and don't know the cause of their child's sorrow?

Abortion advocacy groups have been pushing for the eradication of parental involvement laws for years, because these laws decrease their business. Minor abortions in Illinois dropped significantly after the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Law took effect. Abortion advocacy groups promote what is more profitable for them, even though their position puts minor girls at risk.

Peter Roskam supports a parent's right to know and protect their child through common sense regulations on abortion, while Sean Casten sides with predators and wealthy special interest groups. Vote for Congressman Peter Roskam this November.

Mary-Louise Hengesbaugh

Wheaton