Here’s Lyle Shelton, head of the Australian Christian Lobby:
“Whether or not the Greens like it, the taking of human life in the womb is an issue that should be debated politically and not silenced.
“Our society’s inability to support women with unsupported pregnancies to the point where abortion is so widespread is a matter of serious public policy and people are right to express a view publicly by way of protest or prayer.”
Let me call bullshit on this. Taking the life of a foetus in the uterus has been settled and is not a political debate on anyone’s radar other than some out of touch christians. Women are supported in pregnancy. There are plenty of organisations helping. Sometimes women have abortions, for whatever reason. There is nothing wrong with that.
Shelton is protesting that a Greens Senator has taken a stance against christians standing on the footpath praying. He doesn’t see why that is a problem. I do. You can pray anywhere. What makes him think that praying near an abortion clinic is going to make any difference to the way his god responds. They could all sit at home and pray, but no, instead they gather quietly and peacefully, just like a bunch of hyenas, waiting for the right moment to pounce on their unsuspecting victim. If you challenge them they smile and say that they are going about the lord’s work. What they are really doing is providing a barrier between the front door and the women who are within their rights to seek the service of the clinic inside. This deliberate act is designed to shame women into not having an abortion. It is a device to intimidate women and deprive them of their choice. It is not peaceful or pleasant, no matter how much the nice christians in their beige cardigans and corduroy trousers look. This is an aggressive gesture that has no place in our society.
Women have the right to an abortion. This isn’t something that needs further discussion. The matter is settled.
Oh, and stay at home to pray. It’s warmer.
I get off the train in the city at Parliament station. More often than not, I have to pass anti abortion protesters on Spring Street. I am often struck by the fact that they are old people – well past retirement age, people who will never have to make that decision to abort. And yet they want to strip women of choice.
The other thing I’m struck with is the blatant misinformation they use to frighten women and men into agreeing with them.
The matter has been settled for some time. I’ve never had to make that heartbreaking choice and now never will, but I know plenty of women who have, and they’ve been universally grateful that they had a choice, that if they had to do it, that it was safe.