Controversial Abortion Pill

In response to “A French Option on Abortion,” Column One, Aug. 11:

Thank you for again addressing the controversial subject of RU-486. Rone Tempest’s article mentions what I consider to be the two most compelling arguments for the availability of RU-486. Quoting pill inventor Prof. Etienne-Emile Baulieu, “In France, issues of morality tend to be individual, private matters. . . .” Exactly! As they should be here. Anti-abortionists do not have the right to know about or dictate to a woman the conduct of her private life.

The second argument is stated in a quote by Dr. Barnard Maria, who says, “We don’t ask anti-abortionists to have abortions. But we would like anti-abortionists to let others who want them to have them. To us this is democracy.” To us this is democracy! Anti-abortionists and Christians zealots have forgotten that this country was founded on the principle of religious freedom--which includes freedom from religion. This country is not a Christian theocracy; religious and moral diversity must be tolerated and even encouraged.

KATHRYN S. TARBELL

Huntington Beach