Ireland has very strong anti-abortion laws. It’s illegal. That’s it. However, new legislation has been proposed that would allow Irish women to terminate their pregnancy if there is a threat on their life—including suicidal intent. The New York Times explains that even if the bill passes, terminating a pregnancy will not straight-forward. If a woman’s life is in an emergency situation, one doctor will be able to ... Read More

Some stories just slip through the cracks. Although it’s been almost three years in the works, the story of (ex) Dr. Kermit Gosnell’s Philadelphia abortion clinic, The Women’s Medical Society, has just now been brought to our attention (and horror).   The details are tragic and not for the faint-hearted. I sifted through the 280+ pages of the Grand Jury report, compiled by the courts, and I am still reeling. The ... Read More

Planned Parenthood has released a new video as part of its Not in Her Shoes campaign, imploring viewers to set aside labels like “pro-choice” and “pro-life” when it comes to their ideas about abortion. We had a bit to say about this topic last week, as have many other sites and publications, feminist or otherwise. With so many Americans taking issue with these binary points of view, is does seem like the right moment ... Read More

What happens when women are denied abortions? Sometimes, like Savita Halappanavar, they die. More typically, they give birth, keep the baby, fall below the poverty line, are forced to rely on public assistance, and are unable to keep a full-time job. The first scientific study on women denied abortions was presented last month, and science and entertainment website io9 has the details. Although abortion is a huge political issue, it is very ... Read More

Is anyone really surprised?  Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s closing prayer at the Democratic National Convention last week was filled with doubletalk calling for an end to abortion rights, gay marriage, and contraceptive coverage. Dolan gave a similar benediction at the Republican National Convention. The Archdiocese of New York, of which Dolan is Archbishop, gave a statement that Dolan would pray at both conventions “solely as a ... Read More