To the Editor:

Thank you for printing two responses to my letter (“Women have right to safe, legal abortion,” May 23, Page A6).

I was particularly impressed with the letter from Lou Sullivan (“Wisdom on both sides of abortion debate,” June 11, Page A6). However, his accusation that I was demonizing those who disagree with me and painting all opponents of abortion as conservative fundamentalists not caring about women’s rights ignores legislative activity in Republican-controlled states and the Capitol to take those rights away, even to the extent of requiring pregnant women to undergo invasive procedures.

He also insinuated I may lack compassion for children. I care that so many children in this country go hungry that one out of five lives in households that struggle to put food on the table, that more than 500,000 are waiting to be adopted, and that sexual abuse of children is rising.

Of course all of life is indeed precious, yet there remains the question at times of whose life. Perhaps the following story will be of interest to Lou Sullivan, Jean Karl (“Where are rights for the unborn?”, June 10, Page A6) and others.

In recent years at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, doctors terminated a pregnancy to save the life of a 27-year-old mother of four. The hospital was stripped of its affiliation with the Roman Catholic Diocese. Doctors and Sister Margaret McBride, who was on the hospital’s ethics committee, were excommunicated. The hospital rejected the demand that it never again terminate a pregnancy, but it continues to carry out the healing ministry of Jesus.

It was for the same reason that the New York Legislature voted in 1970 to make abortion legal. Mothers were dying from illegal abortions. Too many children were left without a mother.

No one wants an abortion. Anti-abortionists support the right of every unborn to be born, with no exceptions.

In a perfect world, there would be no rape, incest, sexual abuse, no unwanted pregnancies. Unfortunately, the same religions that sponsor the right to life crusade against contraceptives. Women alone bear the consequences. They deserve our support.

Gene Proctor
West Bath