The right wing is all up in a tizzy in the Pacific Northwest after a fifteen year-old girl had an abortion. Naturally, the story isn't so simple as that, so let's walk through it in a certain order.
Pastor Ken Hutcherson, one of Seattle's foremost hatemongers and religious political activists, appealed to his congregation to stand up and oppose ... well, let us allow him to speak for himself:
And FOX News, of course, is on the case:
And then there is a broader overview of the story:
So let me get this straight:
That almost makes sense to me: Jill is angry because her daughter not only failed her expectations, but concealed the pregnancy and abortion.
It sounds to me like what needs repair is not the laws, or the policies of school or clinic. Rather, it sounds like this family needs some serious help.
"Nowhere," laments the mother, "in this paperwork does it mention abortion or facilitating abortion."
Dan Springer explains for FOX, "The form says kids can get reproductive health services through the school clinic, but abortion is not mentioned."
Okay, just a remedial note for those who need it: Abortion is a reproductive health service.
You can play semantics with that if you want, but you'll only be following Jill in fooling yourself.
____________________
Notes:
Sanders, Eli. "Notes from the Prayer Warrior". Slog. March 24, 2010. Slog.TheStranger.com. March 29, 2010. http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/03/24/notes-from-the-prayer-warrior
Springer, Dan. "Seattle School Helps Give Out Secret Abortions". On the Scene. March 25, 2010. OnTheScene.Blogs.FOXNews.com. March 29, 2010. http://onthescene.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/03/25/seattle-school-helps-give-out-secret-abortions/
KOMO Staff. "Mother furious after in-school clinic sets up teen's abortion". KOMO News. March 23, 2010. KOMONews.com. March 29, 2010. http://www.komonews.com/news/local/88971742.html
Pastor Ken Hutcherson, one of Seattle's foremost hatemongers and religious political activists, appealed to his congregation to stand up and oppose ... well, let us allow him to speak for himself:
Antioch!
Are we going to stand by and allow this to continue? Washington is one of 15 states that has no parental consent or notification laws. Call your legislators today and tell them you expect this to be changed. Call Ballard High School (206.252.1000) and the Seattle School Board (206.252.0040) and express your displeasure with the abhorrent actions taken against one of the children they are mandated to protect.
The duplicity in our government run schools boggles the mind! Our state leaders are worried about the kids' eating habits and are considering banning fat and sugar in schools but they have no qualms about allowing a child to undergo a violent and tragic medical procedure that can cripple her emotionally for life!
(qtd. in Sanders)
Are we going to stand by and allow this to continue? Washington is one of 15 states that has no parental consent or notification laws. Call your legislators today and tell them you expect this to be changed. Call Ballard High School (206.252.1000) and the Seattle School Board (206.252.0040) and express your displeasure with the abhorrent actions taken against one of the children they are mandated to protect.
The duplicity in our government run schools boggles the mind! Our state leaders are worried about the kids' eating habits and are considering banning fat and sugar in schools but they have no qualms about allowing a child to undergo a violent and tragic medical procedure that can cripple her emotionally for life!
(qtd. in Sanders)
And FOX News, of course, is on the case:
Seattle’s famously lousy wet weather is extra depressing today. My job is to interview parents outside Ballard High School and get their reaction to the news that their daughters can get help from the school to have an abortion without them ever knowing it.
The story broke this week about a 15-year old pregnant girl who went to her school’s teen clinic. Workers called a taxi which picked the girl up at the school and drove her by herself to a clinic where she had an abortion. The taxi then brought her back to school where she continued her day. The girl’s mother only learned of the abortion months later. She admits to signing a consent form for off-campus medical treatment but says she thought that meant in case of emergencies.
The form says kids can get reproductive health services through the school clinic, but abortion is not mentioned. The form also points out other services available to minors without parental notification: drug counseling and mental health treatment.
(Springer)
The story broke this week about a 15-year old pregnant girl who went to her school’s teen clinic. Workers called a taxi which picked the girl up at the school and drove her by herself to a clinic where she had an abortion. The taxi then brought her back to school where she continued her day. The girl’s mother only learned of the abortion months later. She admits to signing a consent form for off-campus medical treatment but says she thought that meant in case of emergencies.
The form says kids can get reproductive health services through the school clinic, but abortion is not mentioned. The form also points out other services available to minors without parental notification: drug counseling and mental health treatment.
(Springer)
And then there is a broader overview of the story:
When she signed a consent form, Jill figured it meant her 15 year old could go to the Ballard Teen Health Center located inside the high school for an earache, a sports physical, even birth control, but not for help terminating a pregnancy.
"She took a pregnancy test at school at the teen health center," she said. "Nowhere in this paperwork does it mention abortion or facilitating abortion."
Jill says her daughter, a pro-life advocate, was given a pass, put in a taxi and sent off to have an abortion during school hours all without her family knowing ....
.... Jill says she not only didn't have a say in her daughter's abortion, but also didn't know about it.
"Makes me feel like my rights were completely stripped away."
(KOMO)
"She took a pregnancy test at school at the teen health center," she said. "Nowhere in this paperwork does it mention abortion or facilitating abortion."
Jill says her daughter, a pro-life advocate, was given a pass, put in a taxi and sent off to have an abortion during school hours all without her family knowing ....
.... Jill says she not only didn't have a say in her daughter's abortion, but also didn't know about it.
"Makes me feel like my rights were completely stripped away."
(KOMO)
So let me get this straight:
• You sign a parental consent form to allow your daughter access to the school's privately-administered health center.
• Your pro-life daughter thinks she gets knocked up.
• So she goes to school, takes a pregnancy test, finds out she's pregnant, and decides to have an abortion.
• Clinic officials facilitate the procedure in accordance with state law and their contract with the schools.
• The school has "completely stripped away" your rights.
• Your pro-life daughter thinks she gets knocked up.
• So she goes to school, takes a pregnancy test, finds out she's pregnant, and decides to have an abortion.
• Clinic officials facilitate the procedure in accordance with state law and their contract with the schools.
• The school has "completely stripped away" your rights.
That almost makes sense to me: Jill is angry because her daughter not only failed her expectations, but concealed the pregnancy and abortion.
It sounds to me like what needs repair is not the laws, or the policies of school or clinic. Rather, it sounds like this family needs some serious help.
"Nowhere," laments the mother, "in this paperwork does it mention abortion or facilitating abortion."
Dan Springer explains for FOX, "The form says kids can get reproductive health services through the school clinic, but abortion is not mentioned."
Okay, just a remedial note for those who need it: Abortion is a reproductive health service.
You can play semantics with that if you want, but you'll only be following Jill in fooling yourself.
____________________
Notes:
Sanders, Eli. "Notes from the Prayer Warrior". Slog. March 24, 2010. Slog.TheStranger.com. March 29, 2010. http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/03/24/notes-from-the-prayer-warrior
Springer, Dan. "Seattle School Helps Give Out Secret Abortions". On the Scene. March 25, 2010. OnTheScene.Blogs.FOXNews.com. March 29, 2010. http://onthescene.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/03/25/seattle-school-helps-give-out-secret-abortions/
KOMO Staff. "Mother furious after in-school clinic sets up teen's abortion". KOMO News. March 23, 2010. KOMONews.com. March 29, 2010. http://www.komonews.com/news/local/88971742.html