Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site wivax.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!dyer From: dyer@wivax.UUCP (Stephen Dyer) Newsgroups: net.abortion Subject: Re: open letter to pro-lifers Message-ID: <19306@wivax.UUCP> Date: Sun, 18-Mar-84 22:05:41 EST Article-I.D.: wivax.19306 Posted: Sun Mar 18 22:05:41 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 19-Mar-84 03:50:28 EST References: <7257@watmath.UUCP> Organization: Wang Institute, Tyngsboro, Ma. 01879 Lines: 23 Sophie, I just dropped accidentally into the middle of this discussion, with a broken .newsrc, but your recent article attempting to rebut anti- abortion arguments is completely off the mark. I don't understand the reasoning behind it. It seems to say, "yes, abortion is an atrocity, but atrocities have been going on for millenia, so don't pick on abortion." It seems to me that anyone who accepts this premise needs accept the whole package--namely, that abortion is in fact a moral wrong, and should be avoided at all costs. Otherwise, you need to be able to juggle moral concepts according to convenience, and live with a good deal of cognitive dissonance. I mean, I can at least understand where someone is coming from when she says to me, "the fetus is not a person--I have no qualms about terminating a pregnancy." But this other argument... A number of Catholic organization are, in fact, trying to provide alternatives to abortion for women. One would wish, however, that they would also put their money up front for effective contraception and contraceptive counseling. On the other hand, for most women today, the Church's proscription against contraception has little force. /Steve Dyer decvax!bbncca!sdyer