A woman's sacred right to choose

I find the perspective somewhat small. The statement

We honor our sacred sexuality by exercising our adult responsibility to nurtue and provide for any children we choose to bring into the world.

seems to limit the sacred to sexuality and the view-any children we choose-is rather selfish. Rather, our entire lives are sacred and we are responsible for all of our relationships, not just the ones we choose.

"I personally believe that pregnancy--and parenthood--are joint responsibilities, particularly when sex was consensual. Fathers should have a say in the future of their own child and should be expected to share in the responsibilities of raising their child"

Absolutely, provided that the father is in the picture, not abusive, or (Goddess forbid) a rapist or a blood relative. However, too many men view sex as something you can walk away from without consequences. Or, if the girl does become pregnant, you blame her for being promiscuous and say that the baby isn't your responsibility. Or worse, claim that you're the "baby daddy" but don't give her any child support. The plot of "Knocked Up" doesn't happen all that often in real life.

Ultimately, it is the woman's decision to carry that child, not the man's.

This pretty much sums it up.

The issue here in *what the law says* is who says what goes on in whose bodies. Who gets to choose what happens in another person's body is simply a separate matter from the many religious beliefs about it.

Someone having a religious belief that souls are created ex nihilo on the occasion of 'conception' (Something the anti-choice crowd want to extend back to the potentially-pregnancy inducing sex act itself, let's be honest, here,) does not give them the right to impose that belief on others.

The question of when the human experience begins in a lifetime simply isn't something that meets legal standards: the anti-choice position that their belief overrides other people's lives and autonomy is simply not legally tenable, whether one agrees to believe one religion or not.

Pagans may have a diversity of beliefs on that question, but the simple fact is, the *political* question is not about sacredness. It's about control. Thinking it's sacred to not eat pork doesn't mean you can outlaw it.

I trust you would also argue that it is a woman's responsibility alone to raise the child she 'chooses' to have? After all, as you say, feminism is about what a woman can do with her own body. Presumably, she would be responsible for the consequences of the choices she makes?

(I personally believe that pregnancy--and parenthood--are joint responsibilities, particularly when sex was consensual. Fathers should have a say in the future of their own child and should be expected to share in the responsibilities of raising their child).

Well said, Starhawk! It is about individual human rights and beliefs.
Some believe that an embryo has a soul from conception, some right before birth. A woman I used to work with once told me her family believed if a baby was miscarried or died at birth, it was because the reincarnating soul had decided not to incarnate at this time! Beliefs are so personal. How could we possibly even attempt to tell another woman what she should or should not do in such a personal and emotional situation. And while I agree with CGBURNS28 "Furthermore, as a feminist, I think abortion is a poor antidote for the social issues like poverty. The fact that we still leave women feeling like they have to either kill their unborn children or starve is a sign that we have failed our women and our children.

All children deserve the chance to have a healthy life", this still does not mean that we have the right to dictate to another what choice they should make. It is not always about poverty. We do not know what goes into the choices of others and it is no one's business but their own and no one's choice but theirs. If you believe that abortion is wrong, do not have one! I for one can tell you the wrong reason for having one and that is for fear of what everyone else will think. Being raised as a Catholic, I know of more than one "good Catholic girl" who has been encouraged by their "good Catholic family" to take care of things so no one needs to know "you made a mistake". I myself was told by a very devout relative, "Why didn't you tell me sooner, I would have given you the money to take care of it." My choice was to have my beautiful daughter and I have not had one day of regret in the past 36+ years. But it was MY choice. (As it was my choice to leave the Catholic Church and the hypocrisy I found there and to follow my true spiritual beliefs). I realise the abortion issue isn't about Catholism nor was this article, that is just where my perspective in this life began.

This is not an attempt to start a flame war, but CGBurns28, Starhawk did not make a blanket statement, YOU did. You assert the sacredness of human life and I am assuming from your emphasis that you must put that above other forms of life; that is a blanket statement. The right of self determination allows you to believe and as as you will; it just also endows me with the same right and free will.

The truest, most basic ethos of our (my religion and Ms Starhawk's) is situational and experential. I can't decide what is right for you, you can't decide what is right for me because I am not you, I do not know what you know nor have I expierenced what you have expierenced. However, as part of God/dess, I will trust you and your expierences as they pertain to yourself.

I'm sure you believe in equal pay for equal work, and equal access to education. And I am sure you are against female genital mutilation, but I am not sure that you understand how these things tie into the ultimate right of individual sovreignty. We may never control 50% of the wealth or the land (although I will keep trying to get women there), but we must "own" control our individual selves.

Conscise, clear, and puts the issue in perspective.

I have to say, as a former Pagan this is why I no longer identify with the path. Blanket statements like which forms of "life" all Pagans revere as sacred are wholly inaccurate. I believe that all forms of HUMAN life are sacred, from the zygote to natural death.

Furthermore, as a feminist, I think abortion is a poor antidote for the social issues like poverty. The fact that we still leave women feeling like they have to either kill their unborn children or starve is a sign that we have failed our women and our children.

All children deserve the chance to have a healthy life, and this cannot continue as long as we condone violence against the unborn.