Comments on: Anti-violence group expresses concerns over APA abortion task force

By: ProWomanProLife » Who’s mixing politics and science again?

ProWomanProLife » Who’s mixing politics and science again? — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:27:32 +0000

[...] Life has been writing letters to the APA to ask how it is that the APA can hold a clearly political stand, at the same time as they purport [...]

By: Handicapping the APA abortion and mental health task force report — Warren Throckmorton

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:08:07 +0000

[...] Last week, I reported the concerns of peace advocates, Consistent Life, about the upcoming American Psychological Association report regarding potential mental health consequences of abortion. In one of their letters to APA President Alan Kazdin, CL Executive Director, Bill Samuel, wrote: It is accordingly with great concern we note APA has not taken sufficient care with a highly volatile issue, that of abortion. APA has held a position of abortion as being a civil right for women since 1969, and therefore has a clear political stand. Yet the Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion had no call for nominations; it was formed by Division 35, whose position is stronger and more focused than that of the national organization; and the final make-up of the task force had half the members as strong public advocates of the pro-choice view. Advocates of the view that abortion is violence to both unborn children and to women, which could balance such biases, are ominously absent. There are several well-qualified researchers who would have been pleased to serve on the panel, had the panel been selected with balance in mind. [...]

By: Jamie Sartre

Jamie Sartre — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:27:52 +0000

Thanks Warren for posting about Consistent Life. I had never heard of them before. They’re advocating the kind of stance that has been sorely missing in a lot of the debate on abortion and “pro life”.

If only more Christians in the U.S. would be ‘consistent’ in their views. It sends a sad message to non-Christians when they see the apparent hypocrisy of some pro-life Christians who have a disturbing way of encouraging and accepting war and violence.

I did a quick search and found this page: The New Abolitionists
Wow just wow, there’s Feminists For Life, Atheist and Agnostic Pro-Life League, Prolife Alliance of Gays and Lesbians and many others.
Take that cynical and jaded right wing evangelicals!
The world is indeed a more complex place than the usual black and white distinctions made by some.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:15:24 +0000

I sure hope they don’t follow the South Dakota model – with warning of the potential harms with abortion – but not the potential harms with carrying the fetus to full term.

By: Ann

Ann — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:21:17 +0000

I will be surprised if the report provides reasonable guidelines for informing women of potential risks association with abortion,

I will be surprised as well. I guess this subject is really no different than how individuals respond to their same gender attractions. Some are very content with them while others are not. Some women are not affected at all about an abortion and feel relief after it is over while other women regret the decision the rest of their life and live with an indescribable emotional pain because of it. I am sure the physical aspect of the procedure can involve potential harm as well. I do hope reasonable guidelines will be provided for women to make an informed choice.