IN THEORY:

As thousands in Washington last week marked the 35th anniversary of the court decision that legalized abortion and recent polls show a growing number of youths oppose abortion, abortion rights advocates found themselves in a reflective mood about why they are losing ground in the debate. Some have speculated that abortion rights advocates have failed to acknowledge that many are deeply troubled by abortion even if they support the right to choose it. “Our reluctance to address the moral complexity of this debate is no longer serving our cause — or our country — well,” said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL. Do you think abortion will be phased out, or will abortion rights supporters find a way to reconnect with youths?

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Time magazine listed Jan. 22, 1973 as one of “80 Days That Changed the World” since its 1923 inception. On that date, Justice Blackmun read the decision he had written, on behalf of a 7-2 majority, declaring the Texas laws that outlawed abortions to be unconstitutional. Roe v. Wade recognized a woman’s right to privacy and choice.

In the intervening decades, two generations of women have arisen who do not, thankfully, know a time when the state controlled reproductive rights. But the danger of complacency is real, as women who came of age since the decision may not realize that, though the battle was won, the war is far from concluded. What was legalized yesterday may be criminalized tomorrow.

I would not want the government dictating my daughters’ decisions regarding a fetus that my religious tradition does not consider to be a human being. I fear that the Constitutional right affirmed 35 years ago will be chipped at by those who ascribe to a sectarian theological position that is not mine. As no lover of freedom would want a return to the days when African-Americans were intimidated to the back of the bus, so no defender of freedom would want a return to the days when pregnant women were condemned to back alleys.

Rabbi Mark Miller

Temple Bat Yahm

Newport Beach

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It is important to note that no one is really “pro-abortion.” Those who identify as “pro-choice” do not promote abortions; rather, they do not want women to be forced into a position where they have no control over their own bodies.

One reason many abortion rights advocates are dedicated to getting proper sex education to young people is because they want to lower the number of abortions in our country.

As a pastor, I struggle with the difficulty of abortion, and every woman forced to make that choice struggles as well. We need to name this struggle. And the faith community needs to weigh in to prevent the radical right from speaking for all people.

Perhaps a large part of the problem is that those born after Roe v. Wade do not know what life was like prior to the case.

We take our rights for granted and do not really feel the pressure that freedom of our bodies could be taken away. We do not remember women died having unsafe abortions or the kind of alienation they felt.

If we repealed Roe v. Wade, we would take a huge step back in civil rights. Our society’s goal should be to phase out abortions until they are rare.

The abortion rights community probably needs to better educate people — not with fear tactics, but with facts, warmth and a real attention to the struggle that exists.

Rev. Sarah Halverson

Fairview Community Church

Costa Mesa

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Given that the youth are being enlightened about the horrors of abortion, our country will see fewer women who undergo one. It is a positive sign that many youth realize that a person’s rights end where another person’s rights begin. More specifically, they recognize that an unborn child’s right to life should trump the will of the mother who wants to end it. They also see the ill effects abortion has on the mother, father and society.

Those in the abortion industry know the changing attitudes of teenagers, and they will continue to invest heavily to try to reconnect with them. This industry wants to remain profitable. Abortion practitioners market their service as something attractive and necessary, ignoring its many negative effects. We should all pray for the phasing out of abortion.

Father Stephen Doktorczyk

St. Joachim Church

Costa Mesa