ENDEAVOUR FORUM NEWSLETTER No. 125, FEBRUARY 2007
BOOKSHELF
"Abortion in Australia into the 21st Century: facts, current trends and A Way Ahead"
Compiled in 2006 by Catherine and David Cotton, NSW Right to Life, 32 York St., Sydney.
72 pp. Price $15 plus $1.50 postage.
Substantial price reductions for bulk orders. Reviewed by Dr. Daphne Hennelly.
This is a quite surprising book to be published by the NSW Right to Life since it reads impressively like a government executive publication. Statistics and definitions are informative for us all, likewise, descriptions of abortion procedures. The description of "partial birth abortion" is horrific.
Many people do not know the legality of abortion in the various states of Australia, nor the incidence compared to that of live births, so this book will be a very helpful background to those working in the field.
Regarding "recommendations": governments can assist in many ways - some are listed.These include providing support services, financial incentives, and personal help services so that women can look after their young children more easily and are not worrying about rushing back to paid employment.
The question of informed consent is important. Prior to an operative procedure of any kind,this is required nowadays. In the case of abortion it can be used to delay decision making,thus allowing inflamed emotions to settle. It is controversial by whom, or how this should be done.
Governments can assist by making abortion illegal, issuing restrictions, closing down abortion clinics etc., which are commendable goals. But when all is considered, it must be acknowledged that governments are limited in what they can do to eradicate abortion. This is because the drive for abortion stems from anti-Christian and anti-life beliefs - and how the public views matters of life and death.
A woman may walk into a surgery and say "I have decided to keep it". Whether there is a Christian perspective on these matters is not mentioned in this book because the NSW Right to Life is a secular organization. We are still living in a Christian civilization, albeit defective in many ways - tainted by what Pope John Paul II referred to as "the culture of death".
Prolife organizations can help tremendously but their members must understand what is involved in this very difficult area of life. This book is a valuable starting point
Member Organisation, World Council for Life and Family
NGO in Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the UN