Sandy 's family doctor, who examines her after the abortion, says she may be sterile as a result of the abortion. The abortion is performed with no anesthetic, and the abortionist "feels her up" during the procedure. She walks up the stairs by herself her mother is not allowed to come with her. Her mother has arranged for her to have an illegal abortion in Windsor. Sandy s 19 years old, three months pregnant, and very scared. " All this leads to the growing suspicion that perhaps the abortion issue is not so much a question of sanctity of life, but a vehicle for political power. The National Catholic Reporter suggests that the Bishops have created a Catholic party and "have unleashed a fearsome thing. Attorney General Kelley ruled it out on a technicality. In November 1975, the Michigan Legislature passed a bill to prevent Medicaid from covering abortions. "They wilt put the back alley abortionist back in business." Chelian feels the new rules could raise the cost of abortions by as much as 300 per cent. These standards do not apply to doctors' offices, and most of the abortions performed here are done in the first trimester- when, according to the Supreme Court, the decision is between the woman and her doctor. "These regulations deal with the physical appearance of the clinic, not the quality of patient care, " says Renee Chelian, Director of Detroit 's Planned Family Clinic. Recently enacted Department of Health regulations, if enforced immediately, could close low-budget clinics. In Michigan, there have been repeated attempts to restrict abortions, especially for low-income women. President Ford wants to turn the question of abortion over to the individual states, which would almost certainly erode the 1973 decision. He hopes to reduce the need for abortion through better sex education and adoption procedures. Jimmy Carter favors strict abortion laws and opposes the Supreme Court Decision. According to Washington Right to Life lobbyist John Mackey, "One-issue voters can destroy a politician, because they just look at that one issue." Former presidential candidate Birch Bayh was one such victim in the Iowa Presidential primary. Most members of Congress favor the Supreme Court decision, but might lean the other way publicly to avoid the "slaughter of the innocents" label f rom the Right-to-Lifers. Last year, 59 anti-abortion amendments were introduced in the 94th Congress.Īnti-abortionists are aware that politicians want to avoid taking a stand on abortion. The United States Catholic Conference, the action arm of the Roman Catholic Bishops, has a paid lobbyist in Washington and reported spending $400,000 last year in anti-abortion lobbying efforts. The question of abortion, thought to be settled with the 1973 Supreme Court decision, is being made a campaign issue this year by weII funded Right to Life organizations throughout the country.Įllen McCormack, a mother of four from Merrick, New York, has received $100,000 from the Federal Elections Commission. "We think the Bishops are using the abortion issue to build a political party"- Meta Mulcahy, Vice President, Catholics for a Free Choice.
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