Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Mixed views on US
Rights of women causing debate
ABORTION and women’s rights are causing debate across the world.
Abortion rights were also front and centre in Scotland this week, with a summit held by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
The landmark ruling of the US Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade has prompted differing opinions between politicians, even within the SNP.
Roe v Wade was a landmark decision in 1973 of the US Supreme Court in which the court ruled that the Constitution of the United States generally protects a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion.
Here, Abortion Rights Dundee, the Catholic Church and Dundee Violence Against Women Partnership give their views.
Nic from campaign group Abortion Rights Dundee says: “Whilst in a lot of cases pregnancy can be a joyous event, it can also be one of the most disruptive things that can happen in a woman’s life.
“Women obviously need the choice on whether or not they want to go through all of that.”
She fears the Roe v Wade decision will drive women into unsafe situations in the US.
“Women will always seek abortions or to end pregnancies.
“If they don’t have access to appropriate medical care then that will just drive them into the hands of illegal abortionists.
“We are shocked and devastated for American women.”
Nic has first-hand experience, having chosen to have an abortion at 17, already a mum to a nine-month-old.
“I was in an abusive relationship with her father and got pregnant again because he wouldn’t allow me to be on birth control,” she says.
“I’d been accepted into college, I was working and getting my life back together after falling pregnant as a teenager.
“There was no way I would have been able to cope with another baby and pursuing my career dreams.
“I have absolutely no regrets. It was a difficult thing to go through, but definitely the right thing for me at the time.
“It’s important we talk about it, we shouldn’t feel shame about it as that feeds into the idea that we are doing something wrong and we’re not.
“I think following Roe v Wade we are going to see a rise in women committing suicides in American who can’t access abortion.
“And perhaps a rise in women being murdered by someone who has gotten them pregnant and doesn’t want that to be discovered.”
Scotland’s Catholic bishops give their perspective in light of the debate at their bishops’ conference.
Their spokesman says: “Whether we believe in anything spiritual or not, the life that each one of us lives is the only one we have.
“And to take life from the unborn, no matter how insignificant in size, cannot be right.
“The rights of a woman and the compassion and support due to her, and the circumstances of her pregnancy, are naturally of great concern to us, but an unborn life, once taken, can never be restored.
“This is what makes abortion such a profoundly important matter for all human beings.”
They add that conflict arising from “deeply held and divergent opinions” should be handled with respect and civility.
“Those who do not believe human life begins at the moment of conception, invite the question: ‘When does it begin?’
“While those who believe that it does, ask the question: ‘What right have we to take a unique and unrepeatable human life?’
“If we are to be the caring and compassionate society we aspire to be, upholding the sanctity and dignity of all human life must be