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Proposition 4 challenges my convictions and politics for a number of reasons. This ballot initiative changes the California Constitution to require that minors to notify their parents or legal guardians prior to an abortion. As one who is against abortions (except under some rare medical conditions), this would seem as a “no-brainer” decision on my part.
It’s unfortunate that our state constitution must now be the legal framework to decide whether an abortion should require parental consent. As I read the initiative, the attorney general’s summary, the legislative analyst’s analysis and the arguments on both sides of the issue, I came to one conclusion: We don’t know how to talk about abortion.
Those who want to keep abortion legal claim that they would like to see abortions reduced, yet they do little to communicate and assure us of that claim. Those on the side who want to criminalize abortions can do better at promoting the importance of prenatal and postnatal care for both infant and mother. And they can do better at using their resources and influence to create an environment that would help mothers choose against terminating pregnancies.
I don’t like that abortion takes up such a central role in our political discourse, and that it does become a litmus test for someone’s politics and how they vote. (In this election cycle, two propositions highlight what the “Christian vote” has been reduced to: gay marriage and abortion. Yet, Christian values are much more expansive and transformative than just those two issues)
But my vote for this initiative is less a vote to curb abortions and more a vote for parental involvement in a child’s decision-making process. As a parent, I take seriously my responsibility for my children’s decisions. Until they are 18, I am glad that the law validates my God-given privileges and responsibilities as a parent. I understand that it will be difficult for children to discuss sex and pregnancy with their parents, but it’s unreasonable that children can pursue abortions (which are medical surgeries) without parental consent or notification.
In fact, this initiative does not seem to go far enough to validate a parent’s right. It only provides for parental notification rather than parental consent. My children will not be able to get surgeries, go on field trips, buy cigarettes, and even watch R-rated movies at the theater without my consent. Yet, the law allows them to have a medical procedure in the form of an abortion without notifying us.
I think both sides on the abortion issue should look to strengthen any common ground they have (and I’m sure there are some common agreements). But I’m not waging any bets that I’ll see that any time soon.
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Initiatives aimed at altering state constitutions are unfortunate for all the reasons you and your readers mention here and in earlier posts.
Nice post, though I’d probably vote no (if I still lived there :^) because I think it’s too much and could be done in a more flexible way. I really think that at this point the temperature has to be turned down on the abortion issue if we’re going to get legislation and social mores changed to really reduce them. I don’t normally encourage politically necessary ambivalence, but sometimes cool is better than hot.