Seeking common ground

GLEN STASSEN'S article "Supporting parents: A pro-lifer's critique of Bush" (Feb. 22) brought up many thoughtful issues. But I am frustrated by reading a pro-life person who says that the two sides of the abortion issue should find common ground.

As someone who worked for a pro-choice organization, I was expected to work, write, lobby, attend conferences, meetings, etc. on extension of health care for women, better access to contraception, more money for daycare, better education on reproductive health, etc. The majority of my time was spent on trying to reduce the number of abortions in this county and around the world.

Reproductive rights groups were always reaching out to the pro-life community, asking for its support and cooperation on these issues--to no avail. I can tell you that most of those in the pro-life movement are not the least bit interested in common ground.

I challenge Stassen to contact pro-life groups across the country and ask that they join with pro-choice organizations in taking a strong position on affordable access to health care for the 45 million Americans who do not have it. Establishing such access could dramatically reduce the number of abortions.

The pro-choice groups have been working in the common-ground arena for years; we are just waiting for the pro-life groups to join us.

Denise Riley

Hyattsville, Md.

Glen Stassen replies:

Denise Riley urges me to persuade pro-life groups to join the push for health insurance for the 45 million persons who do not have it. I am working with Rita Brock, Sidney Callahan and Rabbi Steven Jacobs--two of us pro-life and two of us pro-choice--in a project seeking to find such common ground from both sides.

Riley is right: The data tell us that achieving health insurance for the 45 million who do not have it, and a more just economy that focuses on jobs for the unemployed and fair support for the working poor, will do wonders in reversing the present increase in abortions. Economic power should not be concentrated in fewer and fewer hands, as is presently happening, but spread widely so we have a broad consumer base and therefore a strong economy that produces jobs.

I find some pro-choice people also nervous about common ground. But because Democrats are greatly distressed over having lost the election--and because Republicans are getting nervous about abortions, infant mortality and homicides being on the increase under Republican policies that are pushing people out of health insurance--this may be a new, teachable moment for both sides.

COPYRIGHT 2005 The Christian Century Foundation
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