Mahony on Childbearing

Allow me to suggest two daring propositions: that as a woman and a Christian I am just as qualified to speak on motherhood as Mahony, and that his rank in the clergy offers no guarantee that he is doing the will of God. At first reading, his column seemed innocuous enough, but upon closer inspection the same tired agenda emerges, which seeks to keep women and economic independence as far apart as possible.

By portraying those seeking abortions as helpless victims of a wicked society that refuses to recognize woman’s divinely ordained role as breeder, is to also say women are little more than confused children, incapable of rational thinking regarding their own best interests.

The qualities of nurturing and parenting can be expressed in countless ways and one needn’t have 10 children to do so. To suggest that limiting one’s family is unnatural is to suggest the same of a woman with a reasonable mind.

SUSAN SELF

Los Angeles