Spring Break
Parental notification won't make teens safer
Alex Sanders
Issue date: 1/26/09 Section: Commentary
After eight years of ex-President Bush's adamant feelings of opposition to abortion, President Obama has finally ended the ban on funding international groups that perform abortions. Bush's previous policy on abortion halted funding for groups that provide counseling or referrals for abortions, making the process difficult and doing just about everything short of making abortion illegal.
Now, people who really need the services can get help and information without hassle. The previous policy was not really a deterrent because people could still get information about abortions; the policy simply made it more complicated and potentially more time consuming, which is a negative factor when dealing with abortion.
Incidentally, a Connecticut Catholic Conference report released last week shows a national decline of abortions, while there was a 12 percent increase in abortions in Connecticut between 2000 and 2007. The Roman Catholic Organization is concerned about the abortions because the increase seems to be occurring among a younger demographic. Because of this, Catholic bishops are trying to pass a bill that would obligate parents to be notified when their child, if a minor, is planning on getting an abortion.
Currently, the policy requires that girls ages 15 or younger receive counseling before looking into an abortion. The new policy would require anyone under the age of 17 to receive counseling.
The current law is fine as it is and does not need to be changed. There is a national decline in abortions and that trend is going in the right direction. Also, the percentage of girls under the age of 15 who are pregnant is very low.
Girls under the age of 15 are more dependent on their parents and might be more likely to tell them that they want to get an abortion. Girls over the age of 15 are further into high school and tend to be more independent and confide in their friends more than their parents. They should tell their parents if they are looking to get an abortion, but even if the law changes, some girls won't talk anyway.
Now, people who really need the services can get help and information without hassle. The previous policy was not really a deterrent because people could still get information about abortions; the policy simply made it more complicated and potentially more time consuming, which is a negative factor when dealing with abortion.
Incidentally, a Connecticut Catholic Conference report released last week shows a national decline of abortions, while there was a 12 percent increase in abortions in Connecticut between 2000 and 2007. The Roman Catholic Organization is concerned about the abortions because the increase seems to be occurring among a younger demographic. Because of this, Catholic bishops are trying to pass a bill that would obligate parents to be notified when their child, if a minor, is planning on getting an abortion.
Currently, the policy requires that girls ages 15 or younger receive counseling before looking into an abortion. The new policy would require anyone under the age of 17 to receive counseling.
The current law is fine as it is and does not need to be changed. There is a national decline in abortions and that trend is going in the right direction. Also, the percentage of girls under the age of 15 who are pregnant is very low.
Girls under the age of 15 are more dependent on their parents and might be more likely to tell them that they want to get an abortion. Girls over the age of 15 are further into high school and tend to be more independent and confide in their friends more than their parents. They should tell their parents if they are looking to get an abortion, but even if the law changes, some girls won't talk anyway.
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