May 31, 2002

Gotcha!

Gotcha! A pro-life group, Life Dynamics, recently conducted a 'sting' operation on abortion clinics.

Life Dynamics said one of its activists has called more than 800 abortion clinics nationwide in recent months, pretending to be a 13-year-old girl impregnated by her 22-year-old boyfriend. What she learned is that more than 90 percent of the clinic employees handling the calls said they would conceal the information provided by the caller, according to Life Dynamics president Mark Crutcher.

Such an action would be a violation of the law in states that require the reporting of sexual abuse of a minor. A 22-year-old having sex with a 13-year-old is considered statutory rape in all 50 states.

This is outrageous. The right to privacy should not be used a shield to protect child abusers, but the war between pro-life and pro-choice has so skewed the values of those who favor abortion rights, that they are willing to do just that.

More from the story:

Planned Parenthood called Life Dynamics' campaign an attack
"Their attacks are trying to damage Planned Parenthood, and also eliminate reproductive health services in this country," said president Gloria Feldt. "They'll use any tactics they can."

Hmmm. point out that laws are being violated on a widespread basis, and that is an attack? I don't think so. And telling the truth is not a tactical move, but a relevatory one.

On the other hand, pro-lifers don't have completely clean hands either:

Anti-abortion organizations have also expanded their use of the Internet. In addition to identifying doctors who perform abortions, several sites carry photographs of clinic employees and of women entering clinics to get abortions.

"In this way, mothers who go to kill their babies will be exposed to the world," anti-abortion activist Neal Horsley wrote on an Internet site seeking volunteers to take photographs outside clinics.

Horsley contends, and some legal experts agree, such use of photographs is protected by the First Amendment.

Legal, maybe, but ethical? Absolutely not! They should be ashamed.

UPDATE And some are

Officials with Right to Life may agree with the message, but not the strategy.

"I think it's going to cause more harm than good," Right to Life President J. Patrick Conroy said. "Not only do I object to it on the basis of the intimidation factor, but I think in this case the backlash will exceed the intended, anticipated benefits."

Posted by Rich at May 31, 2002 12:54 AM