PROP 73 — PARENTAL NOTIFICATION BEFORE ABORTION
Proposition 73 is on the ballot for November 8, 2005 in a California Special Election. The main features of the proposed law are:
1) Amends California’s Constitution, prohibiting abortion for unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent/legal guardian, except in medical emergency or with parental waiver.
2) Defines abortion as causing “death of the unborn child, a child conceived but not yet born.”
3) Permits minor to obtain court order waiving notice based on clear, convincing evidence of minor’s mmaturity or betst interests.
4)Mandates various reporting requirements.
5) Authorizes monetary damages abainst physicians for violation.
6) Requires minor’s consent to abortion, with certain exceptions.
7) Permits judicial relief if minor’s consent coerced.
For complete analysis by the Legislative Analyst, link to “Analysis“.
As I view this Proposition, it recognizes that families are the nucleus of our first level of suport, care, and counsel during difficult and stessful times. The Proposition not only protects minor children (both born and unborn) but it protects the family as the basic functioning unit of society. It is simply not compelling social policy for the government to take this prerogative from the family. Neither is there compelling logical argument that because some parents are totally indifferent or some families dysfunctional that the institution of the family is to be disregarded in its societal role to care for children.
Parents and all citizens of good will should ask: Do we want children ages 13 to 18 to carry the burden of an abortion decision without the involvement of parents?
Proposition 73 does not prohibit abortions, but it does implicitly recognize the emotional and psychological harm to children who decide to have abortions.
Nothing could be more fundamental to the inherent duty and right of parents than to care for and protect their children without interference by the State. Current laws permit chidren unlimited access to abortion without parental notice. The State, in other words, now conspires with stressed and frightened children to withhold from parents the opportunity to know if their children will be undergoing a serious medical procedure that will have profound ethical and personal consequences.
Do I hope this Proposition will reduce the numbers of abortions, and encourage the placement of newborns for adoption? Of course, I do. I believe abortion is a grievous wrong, and an abomination to God. I believe we practice it as we do because we are blinded by the darkness of our sinning. Yet, this Proposition can be embraced by “pro-abortion” advocates as well. Many of these persons state that they support a “woman’s right to choose” while not exercising that right themselves, or advocating it as a first choice. These persons can support this proposition because they recognize that their young daughters need help during a very difficult physical, emotional and spiritual challenge.
It has been said that all that is needed for the advancment of evil is that people of good intention do nothing. Not to vote for this Proposition will be to miss an opportunity to take back from the State the responsibility and right accorded to parents to care for their children, and for children to have the benefits of parents empowered to help.
