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U.S. Teens Saved From Coerced Abortion

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Saturday, October 23, 2010 2:28 PM Comments (16)

Lest any of us Americans start feel smug about the fact that it’s only those evil Chinese who coerce abortions in their country, we have this story:

Texas Parents Stopped From Forcing Teenage Daughter to Have Abortion

On two occasions, the teenager’s mother literally dragged her to local abortion facilities, including International Healthcare Solutions and Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capital Region, demanding that her daughter take the live of her unborn child.

Though she refused and the child’s father also does not want the baby killed, her parents continued to insist that they will force her to have the abortion. The court’s order prevents that from happening.

“No one should be allowed to decide that an innocent life—especially one that belongs to someone else—is worthless,” says Stephen Casey of Round Rock, one of the allied attorneys ADF works with in Texas.

He told LifeNews.com in a statement, “The right not to have an abortion is protected by law, and this right isn’t relinquished just because someone else considers the child to be an unwanted burden.”

It doesn’t take an evil government to force women to have abortions against their will. All it takes are horribly misguided parents.

In a different but similar case earlier this month, a young girl, Jane (not her real name) was pressured by her mother into scheduling an abortion against her will. She was saved from tragedy when she communicated via text message with Tara Shaver, a 40 Days for Life volunteer who was praying outside the Planned Parenthood facility.

“Can i see an ultrasound an still tell them i dont want it done?” texted Jane in typical texing lingo.

“Yes you dont have to do anything you dont want…you can leave now and go next door they will help you just leave now,” replied Tara.

“my parents wont let me,” responded Jane.

“I am coming over there to meet u! Lets talk before u make your final decision, theres no hurry,” texted Tara.

Jane replied, “please come now.”

“Will be there in a few minutes go outside,” texted Tara.

Think nothing good comes of teens texting? Think it’s pointless to stand and pray outside of abortion clinics? Think only the Chinese abuse women by forcing them to “choose” abortion?

Think again.

Resource: Center Against Forced Abortions: resources for Teen Mothers and Pregnancy Centers

Filed under abortion, choice, coercion, planned parenthood, teens, texting

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Good for those young women! It certainly would have been easier to just go ahead with the abortion, but they had the courage to do the right thing. And what awfully misguided parents. I don’t have any children, but the thought of murdering the unborn makes my stomach churn…

That’s a good sign to hold outside the PP. 
“Need help - Text me #————”

2 lives saved, millions more to go.  Pray without ceasing.

I wish we knew the rest of Tara Shaver’s story here…am praying she was
successful but how does this group (Pro-Life) have a chance against an
underage child and her parents? Would like to know the outcome here…God
bless all those involved with the 40 days for life..for their courage and perservence for the unborn!

Please think and pray about all of this very carefully.  Parent-child relationships are under attack.  Loosening the bond of parents and children allows society to be “mother” and “father”.  This isn’t good for anyone.  The mothers in these scenarios needed outreach and maybe still do.  They aren’t evil women. They know their daughters and they love them I’m sure.  It is good that abortions were prevented, but that is a small step in bringing Christ to this picture.  Just breaking mom and daughter apart is not good enough.

It is good that we work against abortion and save the child and the mother. Is it also not good if we have a compaign to spread the value of abstinence before marriage , the value of chastity ( and the obedience to God’s commandment for a chaste life believing that human body is the temple of God ) May God bless

Pam, I couldn’t agree more.  Some careful thought needs to go into all programs that disenfranchise the parent from the child including some of our religious education programs.  The typical program focuses entirely on the child and deprives the parent of any comparable formation.  How can the family have fruitful discussions about the faith when the parents are out of the loop? The child quickly figures it out - 1.  my parents don’t know what I know and 2. religion is something we talk about only in Church. Christians should be deeply concerned about the parent-child relationship and reach out in love to provide appropriate formation to the parent who will always be a part of that chld’s life.  The family is the first school for the child and the parent is his teacher.  Isn’t that what the Church wants and Christ expects from us?

Liz it is much more serious than that.  In the name of “charity” people have listened to gossip and decide who is worthy to be a parent.  Women are actively distressing families to break them up and bring home a “trophy child”.  In the name of Christianity..  God have mercy. Parents are being cut out of the loop in schools and liberal communities that don’t like the idea that homosexual relations are sinful.  Parents are being attacked instead of loved.  If Christ saw these mothers coercing their daughters what do you think he would do?  He would be gravely concerned and save the child but he would give some light to the mother to help her overcome the fear and upset that is pushing her - like the fear of the gossip she would encounter.  So many problems could be solved if people refused to pass on gossip or loved silence!

Pam - I understand the last part of your comment - I think we both agree there, but please explain the first part a little more:

Women are actively distressing families to break them up and bring home a “trophy child”.  In the name of Christianity..

There are people who feel a certain sense of superiority or entitlement who believe they know how everything should be - how to raise children is one aspect.  When this is combined with their desire for something they don’t have - a son or a daughter, they use the brokenness of others to “save” a child they want.  One person actually said to me they could have someone’s children if they wanted.  It is the abuse of an effort that was intended to help children.  The children are most helped when mom and dad love each other.  When children are not made to question the love or intent of parents.  When they child is reassured of a parents love and the parents are approached instead of the child.  Our society is dividing the young from the old.

What a wonderful example the mother and the father of the unborn infant gave to the grandparents!  May God bless them.  “And a little child shall lead them”

Please pray for our temporary injunction hearing on Thursday of this week in this case.

As someone coerced into abortion by my parents I read with interest the comments about breaking and dividing moms and their pregnant daughters by taking action so the daughter will not be coerced into having an abortion.

It is true that many of these mothers of pregnant teens are doing what they believe is best for their child and are not evil, however, to think that preventing the abortion separates them and the abortion itself would not is very far from true.

My guess is once the baby is born in time all will be well, but the destruction of abortion on a family can last and impact them all for decades . I know because I was there.

Theresa, I agree with you that preventing the abortion is a priority, and I said that in the response.  The daughter is helped but how we label the parent can set off emotional fireworks.  For example: “Look at that woman forcing her child to have an abortion!” brings out one type of response and I would suggest it would lead us to be less Christ like and more likely to sin.  Looking at that same situation and saying: “There is a tragedy here.  A mother feels compelled to kill her own grandchild.” might evoke a different response and reaction - perhaps less sinful and more Christ-centered.  The title of this article begs and emotional reaction but not necessarily a Christian one.  God bless you!

JSYK, Tara is a volunteer at my local 40 Days chapter and shared her story with us. She did indeed succeed and the young woman (who’s boyfriend’s grandmother was the one who called Tara) chose to keep her baby =)

The parents agreed to the injunction.  Another life saved today.  Thank you for your prayers. (from one of the attorneys involved).

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About Danielle Bean

Danielle Bean
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Danielle Bean, a wife and mother of eight, is editorial director of Faith & Family magazine and author of My Cup of Tea, Mom to Mom, Day to Day, and most recently Small Steps for Catholic Moms. Read more of her blogging at Faith & Family Live and DanielleBean.com.

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