Abortion: whose right to decide?
B<sub>y</sub> RICHARD LUNDQUIST
Few wars are fought with as much ammunition as the legal and moral battles of abortion.
Loaded with emotion and overlapping arguments, the guns of legality and morality fire loud and often.
ENTRENCHED ON one side are the advocates of liberalized abortion laws who say a pregnant woman should have the right to decide upon an abortion.
LAST OF A SERIES
"I feel abortion laws should be liberalized," the Rev. Ronald Sundbye, pastor of the First Methodist Church in Lawrence, said. "Most of the laws are based on pretty rigid laws of morality.
"In some cases," Rev. Sundbye said, "abortion is the moral thing to do."
He pointed to incest, rape and, in some cases, unwanted pregnancies as examples.
IN A RECENT Saturday Evening Post article, Dr. William Ober, director of laboratories at New York's Knickerbocker Hospital and professor of pathology at New York Medical College, supported the pregnant woman's right of choice.
Ober said: "I submit that there is no moral difference among abortions, whether the fetus is the result of rape, incest or rich conjugal love. By what right does the state or church claim a jurisdiction superior to that of the woman involved in pregnancy?
"I believe that every woman should be able to have an unwanted pregnancy aborted at her own request, subject only to the consent of her husband and the advice of her physician," he said.
FIRING FROM the other battle line are those who claim abortion is morally unjustifiable under any circumstances.
The Rev. Brendan Downey, OSB pastor of the St. Lawrence Student Catholic Parish, said, "The life of an infant is considered sacred. Killing it before it emerges from the womb makes no difference."
For now, those who object to abortion on moral grounds are backed by the law in most states. The Supreme Court of New Jersey said in 1960, "Medical authorities have long recognized that a child is in existence from the moment of conception."
THE COURT pointed out that biologically and legally the fetus is a human being.
The law in 42 states rules that an abortion can be performed only if the life of the mother is clearly in jeopardy.
Illustrative of the doctor's dilemma is the 1938 case of Dr. Aleck Bourne, a prominent London surgeon.
In one of London's best-known hospitals, Bourne aborted a 14-year-old girl who had been raped by several soldiers. He then notified the authorities and was brought to trial.
THE DOCTOR'S defense rested on the statement, "I cannot draw a line between danger to life and danger to health. If we wait for danger to life, the woman is past assistance."
Bourne was acquitted.
Kansas law states that an abortionist can be convicted for a misdemeanor if the abortion is performed before quickening (when the pregnant woman feels stirring in the womb) and the aborted woman lives.
A misdemeanor conviction carries with it imprisonment in the
county jail for not more than one year and/or a fine not to exceed $500.
IF THE ABORTION is performed after quickening or if the pregnant woman dies, the abortionist can be prosecuted for first degree manslaughter.
First degree manslaughter is punishable by a 5-21 year prison sentence at hard labor.
"I have tried to convict abortionists," Dr. Raymond Schwegler, director of the student health center said, "but have never been successful."
It is difficult to get an involved person to testify, said Schwegler. A person who has had an abortion obviously does not want it publicized, and this is what happens if the case is brought to court, he said.
While the doctor faces his dilemma, the aborted girl must deal with her own feelings of guilt.
"Our Christian tradition is a factor in the guilt," Schwegler said. "We have been taught that it is wrong to kill and this is essentially what abortion is."
LIBERALIZED abortion laws have been considered and usually rejected in many state legislatures across the nation. The recent acceptance of a liberal abortion law in Colorado, however, may be indicative of change.
Basically the law would permit a physician to perform a therapeutic abortion when:
- A 3-member therapeutic abortion board at a certified hospital unanimously agrees pregnancy would result in the death of the mother or serious, permanent impairment of physical or mental health. When mental health is concerned, the board must be presented certification by a psychiatrist.
- The child would likely be born "with grave and permanent
Seniors who will be graduating June 5 may pick up coupons for caps and gowns by presenting their senior fee cards at the business office in Strong Hall any day this week.
Jim Crumpler, publicity chairman for the Class of '67, said those who fail to pick up the coupons by Friday will not receive caps and gowns.
"Their money also will not be refunded," he said.
Caps, gowns deadline set
He added that students who have not paid their senior fees must pay $4.50 for the coupon.
Crumpler suggested that seniors go to the Alumni Office, also in Strong Hall, and pick up a copy of the "Senior Reminder," which contains additional information concerning graduation.
Grant given for building
Senator Frank Carlson announced a $650,000 grant to KU yesterday to complete undergraduate portions of the new Humanities building. The grant is a Title I gift for undergraduate work.
Keith Lawton, vice chancellor in charge of operations, said, "This is probably confirmation of a supposed gift to complete the second phase of the building.
"We applied for $602,925 to the Kansas commission, who recommended it to the federal commission. At the present time, we have received no official word on the grant."
physical deformity or mental retardation."
The pregnancy resulted from forcible rape or incest and no more than 16 weeks of gestation had passed.
A girl under 16 becomes pregnant from statutory rape or incest.
Opponents of the law claim it will make Colorado the "abortion Mecca of the nation."
Supporters of the law maintain the bill is permissive in nature and "would not require any person to have an abortion at any time."
PRESBYTERIAN APPOINTMENT
RICHMOND, Va. — (UPI) The Rev. Frank A. Brooks, Jr., a native of Mississippi, has been appointed director of the Department of Church Music of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.
In his new post, which he will assume Nov. 1, the Rev. Mr. Brooks will help interpret the place of music in the total life of the church and guide curriculum writers as they encourage the use of music in the worship and work of the congregation.
Daily Kansan 3
RUGGED ROMANTIC ...
Wednesday, May 17, 1967