Political shifts worry local
organizations
By Heather Mangold
City
Editor
A celebration hosted by the local Planned Parenthood
was held Monday night for the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade case. The
Supreme Court's decision in this case gave women the choice to have
legal abortions.
Dinah Farrington, public policy person for Planned
Parenthood, feared that this would be the last celebration of the anniversary.
She said that government interference would take away a woman's right
to have an abortion.
According to Farrington, under half of legislative
and Senate members in Indiana are abortion rights supporters. This will
mean that anti-abortion legislation is more likely to be passed in Indiana.
Farrington said that President Bush signed an executive
order on Monday that would make it difficult for women to have abortions.
"The fact that he's done this and because he is
supporting John Ashcroft for attorney general does not bode well with
family planning and reproductive health advocates," said Farrington.
Ashcroft has been nominated to be the Bush administration's
attorney general and is well known for his anti-abortion policies.
Betty Memmer of Lafayette's Planned Parenthood
said that Ashcroft would not feel it is right for a woman to decide
to terminate a pregnancy, even in cases of rape.
"We just have a real great concern that given the
opportunity, a lot of reproductive rights could be eroded severely,"
said Memmer.
Planned Parenthood advocates voiced their opinions
that government involvement does not belong in abortion issues.
Abortion is a private decision between a woman
and her family, her god and her physician, said Farrington.
According to Memmer, the Roe v. Wade decision would
be reversed with Bush's new administration meaning women would again
die in desperation for abortions.
Abortion rights advocates and anti-abortion supporters
are aware of the significance of the anniversary.
Dana Hobson, director of the Pregnancy Support
Center in Lafayette, said that her organization works all year to promote
life — not just one day is taken out of the year to do so.
The center is an anti-abortion organization that
works with young women who are considering abortion as well as those
who have already had one.
Hobson said that women who have abortions have
a lot of emotional difficulties following the procedure.
Post-abortion Syndrome includes symptoms such as
depression, guilt, anger, increased nightmares, bulimia and anxiety,
according to Hobson.
The center counsels young girls who experience
these symptoms.
"It's a long road to recovery for these girls,"
said Hobson.
|
