It’s essential to acknowledge that the abortion debate is contentious, and I respectfully disagree with Laramie County School District 1 Board Trustee Rene Hinkle's views.
Ms. Hinkle presents her perspective on abortion; however, I must emphasize that abortion deaths of pre-born children are profound. They’re dead.
While she references Planned Parenthood’s (PP) supposed abortion safety record, I maintain that the fundamental issue remains: abortion results in the death of children.
The Centers for Disease Control and Preventionl's 2013-2021 maternal mortality data is 0.46/100,000, whereas the pre-born child’s abortion fatality rate is 100%. The CDC notes that under-reporting is a significant concern across all categories, suggesting that maternal death rates may be higher due to clinics not reporting data to the CDC or the Alan Guttmacher Institute, PP’s research arm.
Ms. Hinkle also asserts her understanding of God is one of love and forgiveness, a sentiment I share.
However, does this imply that abortion is a sin requiring forgiveness? Yes, it does.
The sanctity of a woman’s body, endowed with the capacity to create, nurture and sustain life is a profound, sacred gift. To terminate a life bestowed by a loving and just God is a grave matter.
I contend that abortion should not be promoted or supported as a solution. It’s crucial to differentiate between saving the life of a pregnant woman due to medical complications, which is a matter of triage, and elective abortions, which should not be justified under the same terminology. A pregnancy produces profound reproductive responsibilities, a reality abortion proponents purposedly overlook.
Additionally, the use of a vaginal ultrasound probe affirms the life of the child, whereas abortion instruments such as vacuum cannulas and forceps are designed to dismember/kill the child, which is the objective of abortion.
It’s been stated that abortion constitutes 3% of PP’s activities; however, Abby Johnson, a former PP clinic director, states that abortion accounts for 98% of their operations. A PP supervisor informed Abby that abortion is a primary revenue source, indicating that it’s a significant, though not exclusive, focus of PP.
While unlikely either of us will change the other's viewpoint, engaging in dialogue is beneficial.
S. Michael Melia
Cheyenne, Wyoming
