Abortion is Failing Women: An Interview with Angela Wu Howard

[Michie]

Angela Wu Howard, a legal scholar who has practiced law in the U.S. and internationally, is one of the signers of an amicus brief supporting Mississippi’s pro-life law.


Editor's Note: Part of a continuing series examining the U.S. Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a direct challenge to the 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion throughout the United States.


On Dec. 1, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in the abortion case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Many legal experts say the case presents the most momentous test yet of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide. At issue is the constitutionality of Mississippi’s 2018 law banning most abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy.

As with any high-profile Supreme Court case, dozens of amicus curiae, or “friend of the court,” briefs have been filed both in support of and in opposition to the Mississippi law.

Continued below.
Abortion is Failing Women: An Interview with Angela Wu Howard

 

[narnia59]

Am I the only person who is somewhat bothered by the direction taken by pro-life groups in recent years that puts a lot of emphasis on trying to prove that abortion is bad for women?

With rare exceptions, women freely make the choice to have an abortion. It seems to me that we have fallen into a trap that wants to portray the women who choose to have an abortion as victims and shift the blame for their choice to others, and specifically to the abortion industry.

I don't disagree that the abortion industry has no real desire to help women and every real desire to make money. Their marketing strategy that they are pro-woman has been effective. But is that because women are inherently weak, or simply because women in general who seek abortions lack the moral conviction to make a choice that is not self serving and require sacrifice?

It seems to me when we extend so much effort into trying to make the point that abortion is bad for women, we are giving an equal place to that along with the life of the child that's lost. How can they even compare?

I don't think I'm saying this well so don't clobber me too much. I'm just curious if others have a nagging feeling that it's a bit troublesome when pro-life groups focus on how abortion is bad for women.

 

[Andrei D]

Am I the only person who is somewhat bothered by the direction taken by pro-life groups in recent years ... I'm just curious if others have a nagging feeling that it's a bit troublesome when pro-life groups focus on how abortion is bad for women.

I am bothered by most of the arguments of the pro-life movements. I think they are distracting and misleading in the sense that they take the focus away from the core issue and thus dilute it. It also feels to me that they end up "relativizing" what should be a moral imperative. It concerns me greatly.

There is a Catholic apologist on YouTube who makes this case against diluting and diverging the pro-life argumentation much better than I could: 5 Pro-life arguments you should avoid - YouTube

 

[narnia59]

I am bothered by most of the arguments of the pro-life movements. I think they are distracting and misleading in the sense that they take the focus away from the core issue and thus dilute it. It also feels to me that they end up "relativizing" what should be a moral imperative. It concerns me greatly.

There is a Catholic apologist on YouTube who makes this case against diluting and diverging the pro-life argumentation much better than I could: 5 Pro-life arguments you should avoid - YouTube

I think he makes some very good points.

I have found the most relevant question when given a reason to support abortion is to ask whether that reasoning would apply to a child outside the womb. And why not.