Carl Kline’s column in the Register of Oct. 21, (“Women should have control of their bodies") contained the tragic story of the wife of Mr. Kline’s uncle Charlie, who died trying to self-abort.

Could her death have been prevented? Could she have carried the baby to term and then placed the baby up for adoption? Both the mother and baby could then have lived. Could that baby have achieved the success of two-time Olympic medalist Fatima Whitbread, who was “abandoned as a baby and left to die” (emphasis in original)? (link here) Did not doctors used to tell pregnant women that they (the doctors) were treating two patients, the mother and the unborn baby? Two patients means two individuals. How, then, can the baby be a part of the woman’s body if the baby is a separate individual? Is the liquid in a cup part of the cup? The baby has a different genetic make-up, and may even be of a different sex. Is Mr. Kline, then, denying the humanity of the unborn baby? Who is defending the baby’s life? The womb is supposed to be a safe environment for nine months so that the developing baby can grow until it is time to be born, but abortions turn the womb into a death chamber.

The April 30, 1965, edition of Life magazine displayed the work of Lennart Nilson. There was a gallery of photos showing the development of human life in the womb from conception through 28 weeks. One can clearly see the humanity of the baby even at five weeks after conception. (link here)

What happened in the 1960s that led to the legalization of abortion, which is the intentional killing of innocent human life growing and developing in the mother’s womb.

Abortions used to be done clandestinely, but now they are advertised and promoted. (link here) Up until the 1960s, common sense indicated that abortions were the killing of innocent life, and thus were criminal acts. The original Hippocratic Oath, written circa 400 BC, states, “I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion.” (link here). What had the baby done to deserve a death sentence? Even in the cases of rape or incest, the baby had done nothing wrong. Why should an innocent baby be killed for the crime of someone else? (link here)

One of the most prominent and ardent promoters to legalize abortion was Dr. Bernard Nathanson. He declared in his own words, “We fed the public a line of deceit, dishonesty, a fabrication of statistics and figures. We succeeded [in breaking down the laws limiting abortions] because the time was right and the news media cooperated. We sensationalized the effects of illegal abortions, and fabricated polls which indicated that 85% of the public favored unrestricted abortion, when we knew it was only 5%. We unashamedly lied, and yet our statements were quoted [by the media] as though they had been written in law.” Do the lies continue yet today? “And speaking of doctors, they are atrocious.

"I mean, we’ve got everything, you name it. Sadists, drunks, incompetents, sex maniacs, thieves, butchers, and lunatics, and nobody to tell them anything...What reputable gynecologist, without inducement, would work in an abortion clinic…?” (link here)

One of Dr. Nathanson’s co-founders at NARAL was Larry Lader, who wanted to abolish all abortion restrictions. Central to his mission was “the courtship of feminists and open warfare with the Catholic Church … That’s the real enemy.” (link here)

Mr. Kline seems to imply that the Roman Catholic Church allowed abortions until the year 1869.

The Catechism of The Catholic Church No. 2271 states: “Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law…” Dr. Nathanson and others (link here) have shown, however, that abortion is not health care. Moreover, he later realized that the abortion controversy was not one of religion, but of ethics and morals. He repented of his thousands of abortions after viewing one of his abortions via ultrasound, and stated “I am one of those who helped usher in this barbaric age.” He renounced his atheism, and, ironically, he was later baptized in December 1996 into the faith he formerly attacked, ridiculed, and calumniated. “When asked why he converted to Roman Catholicism, he stated that "no religion matches the special role for forgiveness that is afforded by the Catholic Church’”. (Both quotes above from here.)