Category: Anti-Choice Abortions

In an article in the New York Times, a lawyer talks about a case he took regarding a 15-year-old who had an abortion in Tennessee:

“The girl’s mother had been shot and killed by her stepfather, and her grandmother got custody of her. Her dad said come live with him or he would kill himself. She said she couldn’t and he did kill himself.

Four months later, she got pregnant, and the boy said, ‘Have an abortion or I’ll kill myself.’ She wanted the baby, had already chosen a name. But she got pulled into having an abortion.

Within a week she was admitted to the emergency room, crying uncontrollably. She’s been in psychiatric care for more than a year now….

I’ve been working with this little 15-year old for a year, and it’s a way of ministering to the second victims of abortion, the women who’ve been damaged.”

TAMAR LEWIN “A New Weapon In an Old War — A special report.; Latest Tactic Against Abortion: Accusing Doctors of Malpractice” The New York Times April 9, 1995

Lauren, a teen who had an abortion, was interviewed. Here is an excerpt from the interview:

“Q: And had you decided straightaway what you were going to do?

L: No, I were going to keep it, but, em, going to get rid of it.

Q: What persuaded you?

L: Well, ‘cos I’m too young and I want a job, and basically I would have nowhere to live, if I did keep it, you [to mother] said you wouldn’t have me would you not with a baby.”

Sharon Tabberer, Christine Hall, Shirley Prendergast, and Andrew Webster Teenage Pregnancy and Choice: Abortion or Motherhood: Influences on the Decision (York, UK: Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2000) 35 – 36

From Lisa, a teen who had an abortion and was interviewed:

“Q: So did anyone give you any advice, did anyone say, “You should do this” or…?

L: Well, no, I wish they had done! I wish they’d said! The only person that was giving me advice was [the boyfriend] “Get rid of it!” “Get rid of it!”

Sharon Tabberer, Christine Hall, Shirley Prendergast, and Andrew Webster Teenage Pregnancy and Choice: Abortion or Motherhood: Influences on the Decision (York, UK: Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2000) 25 – 26

CG Richardson wrote a memoir about her postabortion trauma. She had four abortions and deeply regretted them. She describes the reaction of her boyfriend, Alex, to her pregnancy, and how his reaction led her to have an abortion:

“… Before long I was uttering this to Alex, “I’ve missed my period!” His response was not the reaction I expected! “So what do you want me to do about it?” I was crushed at his insensitivity! I became very upset at how cold and callous he was…

I had all but forgotten about it when next month rolled around and still “No Period!”…

“You’re pregnant?” questioned Alex. “Are you sure?”… He paced for a minute or two and said, “I can’t support a baby right now; I have big plans for my career! I don’t intend to stay a fast-food manager all of my life!”…

“I’ll arrange to have an abortion,” I said to Alex. I spoke it in haste hoping he would try to talk me out of it but he didn’t; instead, he let out a sigh of relief. “You want me to go with you?” he asked. I couldn’t believe my ears!…

As we talked further, he didn’t think he should have to pay for it all, so I agreed to split it with him!…

I had never realized how selfish he was before and I began to wonder how I ever cared about him at all.”

CG Richardson No One to Hear Their Cries (Lulu, 2007) 46, 47 – 48, 49, 52 – 53

While this may not fit the category of “coerced abortion” exactly, it’s clear that Richardson wanted her baby and it was the father’s decision to abort. She was not empowered by her abortion, nor was it her free choice.

Pro-life activist John Cavanaugh–O’Keefe tells the following story:

“I was outside the Hillcrest abortion clinic in SE Washington, talking to women and couples approaching the place. There were a dozen or so pro-choice folks outside, blocking my way so I couldn’t converse…

A car pulled into the lot, and a man got out of the driver’s seat. He went around to the passenger side, and talked a bit, then shouted a bit, and then wrenched the door opened, grabbed the woman sitting there, and pulled her out. She screamed and cried, but he dragged her toward the door.

I tried to speak up a bit, although I can’t remember what I said. The pro-choice group blocked my way. If either the man or the woman tussling their way to the door noticed anything from the sidewalk, they probably heard just noise.

The man won: he dragged her inside. I don’t know anything more about their story; as far as I know they were in there for a few hours, long enough to complete her planned procedure…

[T]hey watched the man drag a woman inside – physically, no metaphor here – and they had nothing to say about it. They took the man’s side against the woman’s choice.”

John Cavanaugh–O’Keefe Pro-Life Democrat: 50 Brief Insights an Apologia (2020) 109 – 110

Clare Bremner is a counsellor with the Abortion Recovery Care and Helpline in Scotland. She says:

“In my long experience, typically 75 per cent of the women who summon up the courage and bravery to make a call for help regarding an abortion were pressurised or bullied into having one, in almost all cases by the man involved…

We have come to realise that most of the men involved do not even realise that their behaviour is abusive. That is quite remarkable but moreover worrying for those of us who want to see change.”

Clare Bremner “Hidden victims of coerced abortion being recognised by law at last” The Times February 09 2018

Pro-life and pro-peace activist and author John Cavanaugh–O’Keefe, who demonstrated and rescued outside of abortion facilities, wrote:

“Pro-lifers who have spent time outside abortion clinics have seen coercive abortion unfolding. A car pulls up, an angry guy gets out and grabs a crying woman, and pulls her along. You hear the shouts: “We already talked about this and we’re going to get it done now, goddamnit.”

This doesn’t happen every Saturday morning at every clinic, but it’s common.

Sometimes a pro-life agenda and a pro-choice agenda flow together, if the woman can choose, the child can live.”

John Cavanaugh–O’Keefe Pro-Life Democrat: 50 Brief Insights an Apologia (2020) 28