Two Day Magazine

This one really takes the misogyny cake. Seriously, he didn’t just cut a slice, he ate the whole thing!

Rev. John Ehrich, medical ethics director for the Diocese of Phoenix really drew a line in the sand the other day when stating that a seriously ill mother of four should have been left to die rather than permitted an abortion that saved her life. The nun (and life saver) Sister Mary Margaret McBride, who was the administrator at the Catholic hospital, was excommunicated for her part in authorizing the desperately needed procedure in order to save this mother.

He states: “She consented in the murder of an unborn child. There are some situations where the mother may in fact die along with her child.”

So, according to Ehrich, in order to do “God’s work”, you must stand back and allow an innocent woman to die, knowing that her fetus would have died either way. If Sister McBride would have allowed this woman to unnecessarily die, not only would the 11 week old fetus have died, but the four children she would have left behind would have had to suffer through life without their mother.

There is plenty of outrage over this issue on both sides of the aisle. Some say that the Phoenix diocese misunderstood the Catholic health care directives, and that the abortion would have been allowed under these rules when a woman’s life is at risk. Some are also outraged (and with excellent reason) that this nun was thrown out of the church for saving a life, while many identified pedophile priests haven’t received nearly as harsh a punishment for their actual crimes against humanity. In fact, they haven’t received any punishment!

If anyone hasn’t noticed lately, woman hating seems to be in vogue. Abortions are becoming harder to come by, there are more restrictions being placed on them now more than ever, and because of theocracy ruling the legislature, more and more children are being born into poverty, born into single parent homes, born into less-than ideal situations, while women are being stripped of their independence and choice in life. It isn’t just bad for the babies, however. The feminine, itself, is under attack. With all these laws emerging, it is only a matter of time before women are held in suspicion if they miscarry, for their bodies will be in violation of the law.

Take this sick, sad example of the state of things. Last May, a 17 year old girl from Utah paid a man $150 to beat her up in hopes of inducing a miscarriage. He agreed, repeatedly kicking her in the stomach. While the fetus survived, the attacker went to jail and the young woman became the center of a heated legal debate which led to a bill (still awaiting the governor’s signature or veto) that would criminalize what she did; which was, to seek an illegal abortion.
This, of course, begs the question: Is a woman criminally responsible for self-infliction of harm? Wouldn’t it make more sense to help a woman who feels this desperate find some sort of resolution than to lock her away in prison? A prison that the society, itself, has created around her?

I don’t understand, once again, where this is all leading to. This story literally brought tears to my eyes. What are we doing to one another? Where is the compassion? Where is the understanding? We are here to create a better world for future generations, how on earth does passing a law like that promote peace and harmony within ourselves and each other?

I am sick and tired of religion ruling the legislature and judiciary system in this country. Give me one anti-abortion argument that doesn’t start with a religious theme. I understand people have their opinions on this very delicate subject, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t affect anyone but the woman involved. At the end of the day, she has to make her own choice about what is best for her life and her future. If the religious right really wanted to end abortion, they would make birth control free and easily accessible. Children and adolescents would be taught age-appropriate sex education, and parents would be given free child care and ample maternity/paternity leave. But, this has nothing to do with that. This has everything to do with control. If we start taking away one person’s right to pursue happiness, it is only a matter of time before they come after you.