The abortion debate in the United States is confused. Ratings-driven media coverage highlights extreme views and creates the illusion that we are stuck in a hopeless stalemate. In this book, now in paperback (published in hardcover in March 2015) Charles Camosy argues that our polarised public discourse hides the fact that most Americans actually agree on the major issues at stake in abortion morality and law. Unpacking the complexity of the abortion issue, Camosy shows that placing oneself on either side of the typical polarisations - pro-life vs. pro-choice, liberal vs. conservative, Democrat vs. Republican - only serves to further confuse the debate and limits our ability to have fruitful dialogue. Camosy then proposes a new public policy that he believes is consistent with the beliefs of the broad majority of Americans and supported by the best ideas and arguments about abortion from both secular and religious sources.

When journalists, academics, and politicians describe the North American anti-abortion movement, they often describe a campaign that is male-dominated, aggressive, and even violent in its tactics, religious in motivation, anti-women in tone, and fetal-centric in arguments and rhetoric. Are they correct? In The Changing Voice of the Anti-Abortion Movement, Paul Saurette and Kelly Gordon suggest that the reality is far more complicated, particularly in Canada. Today, anti-abortion activism increasingly presents itself as "pro-women": using female spokespersons, adopting medical and scientific language to claim that abortion harms women, and employing a wide range of more subtle framing and narrative rhetorical tactics that use traditionally progressive themes to present the anti-abortion position as more feminist than pro-choice feminism. Following a succinct but comprehensive overview of the two-hundred year history of North American debate and legislation on abortion, Saurette and Gordon present the results of their systematic, five-year quantitative and qualitative discourse analysis, supplemented by extensive first-person observations, and outline the implications that flow from these findings. Their discoveries are a challenge to our current assumptions about the abortion debate today, and their conclusions will be compelling for both scholars and activists alike.

The Fight for Life is one woman's journey from abortion to fighter for life. In this book, noted activist Catherine Davis, explores aspects of abortion that few have been willing to touch until now: women's rights, civil rights, or ending poverty. She exposes the racial roots of abortion and eugenics, and how this has been sold to the black community. The Fight for Life is also a challenge to fight aggressively including personal action steps. This book will challenge what you think you know about abortion, and show you a new way forward.

Much has been made recently of the War on Women taking place in our nation's Congress and in the governments of many states. Battles are being waged to wrest control of reproduction away from women, fights women thought had been won with the advent of the Pill and the ruling in Roe v. Wade in 1973. They were wrong. Fear is at the heart of it all, just as it was back in the mid-nineteenth century and early twentieth century when immigrants poured into the United States. At that time, the West was open to settlement, and Yankees were determined that it not be settled by the Irish, Poles, Scandinavians, Slavs, and such like; these people would get too much political clout. White men were in a panic, but what could they do about it? They'd enlist the women by passing laws against birth control and abortion; thereby, literally forcing women into maternity in an effort to outnumber less desirable, in their eyes, the people flooding onto our shores. Information about contraception was considered obscene and prohibited by the Comstock Act of 1873, an act against distribution of any obscene material through the mail. Many states passed similar laws, referred to collectively as the Comstock Laws. Sometimes the states' laws outlawed both the use and also the distribution of contraceptives. The earliest laws against abortion were laws against the commercialization of abortion producing plants. But the push was on, and by 1880 every state had criminalized abortion, with the exception of therapeutic abortion to save a woman's life. Today, white men are again in a panic for fear of becoming outnumbered in the United States by Hispanics, blacks, Asians, and Native Americans, who will by 2050 make up about 54% of our country's population (US census). With minority status comes loss of political power-my G-d we've already got a black President What to do? They decide, consciously or subconsciously, to enlist the aid of white women. Women, however, fight the proposed strictures on contraception and abortion. They've tasted the freedom that comes with control of reproduction, of having a life beyond diapers and parent-teacher meetings. They're becoming doctors, and lawyers, and such: Forced Maternity? No way. Fear of the "invasion of the immigrants" has again raised its ugly head, this time; women will refuse to passively knuckle under.

In this provocative and accessible book, the author defends a pro-choice perspective but also takes seriously pro-life concerns about the moral value of the human fetus, questioning whether a fetus is nothing more than "mere tissue." She examines the legal status of the fetus in the recent Personhood Amendments in state legislatures and in Supreme Court decisions and asks whether "Roe v. Wade" should have focused on the viability of the fetus or on the bodily integrity of the woman.

Manninen approaches the abortion controversy through a variety of perspectives and ethical frameworks. She addresses the social circumstances that influence many women's decision to abort and considers whether we believe that there are good and bad reasons to abort. Manninen also looks at the call for post-abortion fetal grieving rituals for women who desire them and the attempt to make room in the pro-choice position for the views of prospective fathers.

The author spells out how the two sides demonize each other and proposes ways to find degrees of convergence between the seemingly intractable positions.

Elizabeth could not put out the flame that was suddenly ignited upon completing a project for her Freshman year health class. "Over the weekend, I took care of my "baby" when it cried. I had been instructed to insert a key into its back to calm it down. This baby simulator put ideas into my head that caring for a baby would be as simple as turning a key. I quickly started to enjoy carrying the baby around with me and pretending that I was a mommy. I wanted to practice, and I wanted my doll to be real." Elizabeth had an emptiness in her life and could not understand her feelings, and why they were so powerful. Once Elizabeth was successful with her plot, she was reprimanded by her family and the community. Her nineteen-year-old boyfriend, and father of her soon-to-be baby, stayed by her side, but failed to further mature as a support system and father. Law officials did not consider that he was an adult, and having underage sex with a fourteen-year-old girl at the time of her pregnancy. This may have just saved Elizabeth from the suffering and shame that she would further encounter as a young adult. As a former teen parent, Elizabeth is boldly confessing the truth. She believes that hiding the secret of her pregnancy being intentional will only encourage this matter, which is commonly avoided by society and the media. Elizabeth hopes to encourage other former teen parents to also break their silence in an effort to re-evaluate the statics. Statistics state that out of 100 teenage pregnancies, 20 are planned. In the teenage brain, the reward system is mainly influenced by friends and peers when it comes to risk-taking. What would you do if your teens' best friend became pregnant? How would you feel if you discovered that your teen was actually trying to get pregnant? What if your teen was dating a person who was encouraging this? What if it was too late? Mental disorder in teens is also a common problem that goes unnoticed. In an effort to feel better, teens typically self-destruct with reckless behavior and abusing substances such as alcohol and drugs. What are the signs to look for? By re-living her true experience as a confused teenager wanting to quickly grow up, Elizabeth takes you into her world, and her thoughts which uncover a shocking but real question. Do we really know what is going on in the lives of our children? And what can we do to ensure their emotional and social health? I encourage you to read on. This book will capture the attention of anyone who is interested or has had experience with the following; Adoption, Fostering, teens, parents of troubled teens, troubled teenagers, foster care workers, children in the foster system, substance abuse, alcoholism, domestic abuse, domestic violence, child abuse, social workers, public defenders, teachers, educators, public health workers, community volunteers, books on teenage pregnancy, books on adoption, books on foster care, ambiguous loss, south lake tahoe, Lake Tahoe CA

Eugenics, Marriage and Birth Control By William J. Robinson

Traditionally, the history of the birth control movement has been told through the accounts of the leaders, organizations, and legislation that shaped the campaign. Recently, historians have begun examining the cultural work of printed media, including newspapers, magazines, and even novels in fostering support for the cause." Broadcasting Birth Control "builds on this new scholarship to explore the films and radio and television broadcasts developed by twentieth-century birth control advocates to promote family planning at home in the United States, and in the expanding international arena of population control.
Mass media, Manon Parry contends, was critical to the birth control movement's attempts to build support and later to publicize the idea of fertility control and the availability of contraceptive services in the United States and around the world. Though these public efforts in advertising and education were undertaken initially by leading advocates, including Margaret Sanger, increasingly a growing class of public communications experts took on the role, mimicking the efforts of commercial advertisers to promote health and contraception in short plays, cartoons, films, and soap operas. In this way, they made a private subject--fertility control--appropriate for public discussion.
Parry examines these trends to shed light on the contested nature of the motivations of birth control advocates. Acknowledging that supporters of contraception were not always motivated by the best interests of individual women, Parry concludes that family planning advocates were nonetheless convinced of women's desire for contraception and highly aware of the ethical issues involved in the use of the media to inform and persuade.

Containing both medical and legal perspectives, Criminal Abortion is an important document from the early decades of the anti-abortion crusade. Dr. Storer led the medical campaign against abortion during the second half of the nineteenth century. His efforts were supported by Heard, a notable jurist and legal scholar. The motivations for both men were primarily racist, xenophobic and sexist. They were horrified by declining birthrates among Americans of Anglo-Saxon ancestry and the influx of immigrants, many of them non-white, Catholic and Jewish. In their minds abortion in the non-immigrant community, which they attributed to modern fashion and feminism, was leading to "race suicide" and a country overtaken by "inferior races." "The legal portion of the work will probably be of the greatest practical use. This seems to be a very full and thorough collection of all the statutes and cases of value relating to the subject." --3 American Law Review 149 1868 HORATIO R. STORER 1830-1922] received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1853. He specialized in gynecology in his Boston medical practice. Well-known as an anti-abortion advocate, he published widely in medical journals and wrote several popular pamphlets against abortion, including Why Not? A Book for Every Woman (1866) and Is it I? A Book for Every Man (1867). From 1865-1867 he was professor of obstetrics and medical jurisprudence at Berkshire Medical Institution and received his LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1868. FRANKLIN FISKE HEARD 1825-1889] was a Boston lawyer and coauthor, with John William Wallace of the fourth edition of The Reporters (1882). He was the author of The Principles of Criminal Pleading (1879), Shakespeare as a Lawyer (1883) and other titles.

From the "Introduction" European Emperors, Kings, Kaisers and Tsars, and their Churches, forbade contraception, women's equality and divorce. Baptismal Certificates and class barriers dictated who could legally marry, attend school or the university, advance socially, and who could not. World War I finally swept them from power, but their dictates frequently remained as law, in a turbulent era of struggle for freedom and democracy, versus resurgent fascism and slavery. Hodann's History contains a clear discussion of these historical developments within the sexual reform and women's rights movements of Weimar Germany and Europe generally, in the early decades of the 1900s. The parallel advance of scientific knowledge on human sexuality is also detailed. Unlike many contemporary works on these subjects, History of Modern Morals is authored by a physician who lived the struggle, was a leader in it, got arrested by the Nazis for it, and intimately worked with other professionals who also had personally suffered for their work in the same social-sexual reform movement. His writings are therefore filled with a strong passion and vitality, and with many personal observations, anecdotes, and clarifying information not found elsewhere. Hodann's History is also unique in that he frequently and positively discusses the work of his contemporary and associate, Wilhelm Reich. This is especially important given their life-positive emphasis upon love and emotion in sexuality, and their distinction between natural-healthy heterosexual genitality versus neurotic and unhealthy sexual expressions. In the modern era of "politically correct" moral equivalence, this essential consideration has been diminished or erased from public discussion.

Choice, Death, and the Aftermath

Fearfully and desperately wanting to hide my mistakes and deny the unwanted, but not totally unexpected ramifications of my earlier choices, I chose what seemed to be the easiest answer. I chose death, and then I moved into the aftermath of my choice. I, for a lifetime and beyond, will live in the aftermath of my choice. Although there is recovery, through forgiveness, there are lasting ramifications. No one told me that the ramifications of my choice would last forever. No one told me what my choice would do to my heart. No one told me that my choice was, in fact, a death sentence for my baby.

Are you, or someone you know, facing an unwanted pregnancy? Are you wondering if "choice" is the answer, the easiest solution?

After the "choice" comes the aftermath. A living choice not only gives life to a baby, but results in an aftermath of life. Abortion results in an aftermath forever shrouded in death, death of a baby, perhaps death of your own baby. For those struggling with the aftermath of abortion, you and your loved ones can find forgiveness.

This book is for:

Teenage moms wrestling with choice and an unplanned pregnancy

Loved ones who are seeking resolution after abortion

Anyone who needs hope and healing after abortion

This book is a great tool for teen pregnancy educators, pregnancy center advisors, and those seeking to learn more about the emotional struggles, post abortion. It is written out of love and understanding by a woman who thought her choice was the best answer. Whether or not you are a Christian, you will be inspired by the author's incredible faith, without which it would have been impossible to write this book.

Through my story, I pray that you will know that a living choice is the only real choice.

Join me in my story of running from my mistakes, hiding my choice, and slogging through the aftermath. Come with me as I discover a new truth about an old choice. Join me as I struggle with guilt and heartfelt shame, knowing the new truth. Observe the aftermath.

What choice would you have made? What choice would you recommend?

About the author

Sheila and her husband Wayne have been blessed with two beautiful daughters. She is currently on the Board of Directors of Elizabeth Ministry International and Wisconsin Right to Life. In 2010, Sheila received a certificate in equipping from The Masters Institute.

Sheila began her career following college working as an engineer for IBM. After three years, she resigned to attend law school at Marquette University Law School, graduating in 1985. In 2003, after nearly twenty years of being employed full-time as an attorney, Sheila retired and accepted God's call to begin writing Christian books and speaking for a variety of Christian organizations and schools. Sheila's current books include three Bible studies:

The Challenge of Change: Careers, Callings and Work-Life Crossroads

My Secret Loss: Finding Life after Abortion

Grapple with Guilt, Shed the Shame

Oh Baby, The Places You Could Have Gone was originally delivered as a sermon on the topic of abortion to a local congregation in January, 2012. The book contains numerous biblical references and current statistics as well as commentary on the issue, especially as it relates to 21st century America.

Everyday in America, pro-life students are ending abortion. The young people of this generation have survived abortion and have dedicated their lives to ending the greatest human rights tragedy our world has ever known. Yet, their stories, which are real and messy, won't make the news headlines. However, they must be told. It will be their stories that inspire and encourage others to join with us to abolish abortion in our lifetime.

Mr. Chesterton's long essay on eugenics and other evils was written in 1922, just a few years after the close of the 'Great War.' This war was not yet known as World War I, and it could not then be imagined that a greater calamity could be possible. Chesterton ends with the acidic observation that if his readers don't believe how toxic materialistic philosophies are, "neither would they believe though one rose from the dead." Prophetic; Chesterton would die in 1936, a few short years before the horrors of World War II, carried out once again by the hands of those who rejected Christianity and embraced a secular humanism grounded in atheistic evolutionary theory. This deserves our careful consideration, and no author demands it with such wit, humor, and intellect.

"Dangerous Pregnancies" tells the largely forgotten story of the German measles epidemic of the early 1960s and how it created national anxiety about dying, disabled, and "dangerous" babies. This epidemic would ultimately transform abortion politics, produce new science, and help build two of the most enduring social movements of the late twentieth century - the reproductive rights and the disability rights movements. At most a minor rash and fever for women, German measles (also known as rubella), if contracted during pregnancy, could result in miscarriages, infant deaths, and serious birth defects in the newborn. Award-winning writer Leslie J. Reagan chronicles for the first time the discoveries and dilemmas of this disease in a book full of intimate stories -including riveting courtroom testimony, secret investigations of women and doctors for abortion, and startling media portraits of children with disabilities. In exploring a disease that changed America, Dangerous Pregnancies powerfully illuminates social movements that still shape individual lives, pregnancy, medicine, law, and politics.