The Elliot Institute News
From the Leader in Post-Abortion Research
Vol. 6, No. 5 -- March 22, 2007
Visit us online: http://www.AfterAbortion.Info

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Attacks on Pregnancy Centers Aren't Based on Facts

• News Briefs
  Man Convicted for Killing 16-Year-Old Who Refused Abortion
  Virginia Woman Poisoned by Her Boyfriend to Force Miscarriage

• 12 Ways to Help #5: Educate Your Legislators: Tell Them to Advocate Authentic Women's Rights

• Low Cost/No-Cost Ways to Use the Unchoice Ads & Educational Materials #1: Display Posters

• Announcements
  

  Sisters of Life to Hold Respect Life Institute: "Building a Culture of Life and Love"

Attacks on Pregnancy Centers Aren't Based on Facts

Studies Show the Real Truth About Abortion's Impact on Women

Representatives from pro-life pregnancy centers held a briefing for federal legislators this week in response to efforts by abortion advocates and the media to discredit and shut down their work.

The centers provide counseling, financial support and other assistance to women during pregnancy and provide alternatives to abortion. The groups wanted to educate lawmakers about the services they provide and respond to attacks on their work.

One of the most prominent recent attacks on pregnancy centers came in an article published in Time magazine. The article, written by Nancy Gibbs, accused pregnancy centers of providing "false and misleading information" to women about abortion risks and using intimidation and scare tactics to pressure women to continue their pregnancies.

However, approximately 20 studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals in the past several years have linked abortion to higher rates of death, including suicide; depression; anxiety disorders; sleep disorders; post-traumatic stress symptoms; substance abuse; and other problems.
 

Research from both the United States and Finland show that women are more likely to die from all causes after abortion than they are after giving birth. Further, while Gibbs claimed that "many women who get abortions experience only relief," surveys showing that women report feelings of relief after abortion also show that they report negative emotions as well.

A survey published in the peer-reviewed Medical Science Monitor found that 14 percent of American women who had abortions reported feeling relieved after abortion, but they also reported negative reactions such as thoughts of suicide (36 percent), feelings of sadness and loss (56 percent), and feeling "part of me died" (60 percent).
 

In addition, the same survey found that 64 percent reported feeling pressured by others to abort, and that 84 percent said they were not adequately counseled at abortion clinics, with 52 percent saying they weren't given enough time to make the decision, 79 percent saying they were given no counseling on alternatives, and 67 percent saying they received no counseling beforehand.

Unfortunately, the abortion lobby continues its efforts to hamper pregnancy centers from providing resources and support for pregnant women. Most recently, state legislators in Oregon introduced a bill saying that pregnancy centers "misinform and mislead women to deter or delay them from having abortions" and calling for the state to investigate their services.

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For fact sheets on abortion research, resources, ads, and other information, visit www.unchoice.info.
 

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News Briefs

Man Convicted for Killing 16-Year-Old Who Refused Abortion

A New York state man was sentenced to 22 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to murdering a pregnant 16-year-old girl after she refused to have an abortion.

Ryan Ross, 23, admitted in court that in June 2006, he beat Karessee Ebron to death with a baseball bat and hid her body under bags of leaves near a park. Ross lead police to Ebron's body after police discovered his name and number in Ebron's cell phone after his disappearance. Ross told the judge he had killed Ebron because she was pregnant and refused to have an abortion.

The case is just the latest in a number of cases in which pregnant women have been killed by their partners, often for refusing to abort. Studies have shown that homicide is the leading killer of pregnant women and that women are more likely to be attacked during pregnancy. For more information on abortion- and pregnancy-related violence and forced abortion, including a special report on "Forced Abortion in America," see www.unchoice.info/Coerced.htm.

Virginia Woman Poisoned by Her Boyfriend to Force Miscarriage

A Virginia man could face up to life in prison if he is convicted on charges that he poisoned his pregnant girlfriend in order to cause her to miscarry after she refused to have an abortion.

According to I-Sharii Best, 19, her boyfriend, 21-year-old Daniel Riase, was very upset when she became pregnant but then seemed to accept the pregnancy after she refused to abort. However, police said Riase ordered pills used to induce abortion off the Internet and put them in a glass of milk that Best drank. Police say Best became suspicious after she miscarried later that night and that she taped a conversation in which Raise admitted giving her the pills. They say they also found an email confirmation on Riase's computer from the company selling the pills.

Riase could face up to life in prison on charges of malicious wounding and adulterating a drink, but could also be charged with other crimes related to abortion and killing a fetus under Virginia law.

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12 Ways to Help Spread the Unchoice Message

#5: Educate Your Legislators: Tell Them to Advocate Authentic Women's Rights

If Americans knew the truth about unwanted, misinformed or forced abortions ... they would not push women to abort or deny them the opportunity to heal. Millions still suffer in the wake of a procedure that was never safe ... never just ... and never about free or fully informed choices.

Americans have been kept in the dark and many unwittingly push their daughters, wives, sisters or friends into unwanted and dangerous abortions. Meanwhile, countless women who have lived the abortion nightmare are resorting to despair or even suicide. It is urgent that we educate others about abortion's injustice and danger to everyone involved. With your help, we can stop others from pushing abortion in lieu of authentic choices and offer renewed hope and healing to women, men and families hurt by abortion.

Below is just one way you can help this important effort. To see the complete list of 12 Ways to Help, click here.

5. Educate Your Legislators: Tell Them to Advocate Authentic Women's Rights

Educate your political leaders by sharing downloadable materials at www.UnChoice.info -- including a sample letter to legislators. (Include fact sheets and ads with your letter.)

Ask your legislator to protect women’s rights by requiring full disclosure, proper screening, and full liability for abortionists who injure or kill women. Model legislation and support documents consistent with this strategy are posted at www.afterabortion.info/leg/index.html.

Be sure they have a copy of quick-reference fact sheets which shed new light on an old issue. Fill a folder or tab-divided binder with fact sheets, ads, the Coerced Abortion flyer, the Forced Abortion in America report or fact sheet, the Hard Cases: New Facts. New Answers booklet and the Research Summary.

Finally, you can schedule a meeting with your representative, candidate or political-party representative. They are very receptive to feedback from voters.

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Low-Cost/No-Cost Uses
for the Unchoice Ads and Educational Materials

#1: Display Posters in Schools, Churches, Offices and Elsewhere

You can help spread the Unchoice message by using our ads and educational materials -- even on a very limited or non-existent budget! Here is just one way you can spread the word. Click here to see other low-cost/no-cost ideas.

1.  Display posters in schools, churches, offices, and elsewhere.

Hang posters or ads where permitted, on bulletin boards, in stores, libraries, schools, churches, as windshield flyers, and elsewhere. (Co-op ads and posters are available with a small space you can use to promote your organization's event, local contacts, outreach services, meetings or counseling centers.) You can print out the posters on 11x17 paper or take the files to a copy center for a low-cost option.

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Announcements

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Find out more about Elliot Institute books and resources, visit www.unchoice.info/resources.htm.
To place an order, call Acorn Books at 1-888-412-2676.

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