An Authentic Concept of Woman will Build a Culture of Life
FREE Catholic Classes
(c) Dorinda C. Bordlee, Esq.*
This January marks 30 years of a failed social experiment called legalized abortion. As we look to the future to assess ways to rebuild our dehumanized culture, it is helpful to look back in history to review what the original woman's rights advocates said about abortion. Were these bold women who fought for the dignity and rights of women in favor of legalized abortion? Take a look at their words, and decide for yourself:
"Abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women." Alice Paul, author of the original Equal Rights Amendment (1923).
"[Abortion] will burden her conscience in life, it will burden her soul in death; but oh, thrice guilty is he who...drove her to the desperation which impelled her to the crime!" Susan B. Anthony, The Revolution, 1869. Susan B. Anthony organized the woman's suffrage movement which worked to get women the right to vote.
"When we consider that women are treated as property, it is degrading to women that we should treat our children as property to be disposed of as we see fit." Elizabeth Cady Stanton in a letter to Julia Ward Howe, October 16, 1873. Recorded in Howe's diary at Harvard University Library. Stanton is a co-organizer of the woman's suffrage movement.
The political agenda of groups like NOW, including its current efforts to obstruct judicial appointments of well-qualified jurists who respect the dignity of human life and the authentic nature of freedom have been widely discounted. NOW's philosophy of radical feminism is simply not responsive to the real lives of real women.
Radical feminism seeks to create a society (and has in fact achieved a society) in which freedom is a drastically individualistic matter: it's all about me. This erroneous notion of freedom gives no place to solidarity, to openness to others and service of them. It ends up becoming the freedom of the strong against the weak who have no choice but to submit.
Authentic feminism takes an integrated and balanced approach to the roles of women both in the family and in the workplace. Where she differs from man, a true feminism understands that these differences are constructive and complementary. A true feminism encourages collaboration between men and women, such that we stand united in addressing the many problems of our day.
The outdated concept of old-line feminism that NOW espouses is a stance that is isolationist where men are concerned; and even more isolationist where unborn and even born children are concerned. The result in 1973 was the invention of a "right" to sever those relationships by legalizing abortion on demand - the sad and deadly legacy of a feminism that exalted the isolated woman - abortions without spousal consent or even notice, and abortions on minor girls without notice to parents.
Authentic feminism takes a realist approach. It faces the reality that the violence of abortion has led to disaster for women, their children, and our culture. Authentic feminism challenges the world to accept woman in all of her life-giving glory: whether by bearing and nurturing human life, and/or by creating and cultivating an initiative that benefits the world through law, medicine, academia or the marketplace.
The unique gifts and talents that women bring to the table in both work and family position us to have enormous impact in rehumanizing our current culture of death. The "feminine genius" is that woman finds herself by making a sincere gift of herself. Women can teach the world how to balance work and family such that market economies are at the service of humankind, rather than humans in slavish service of the market.
Women are equal with men in dignity, but different in our feminine nature and identity. Women are icons of self-giving love. Countless women have managed the often herculean task of raising families and making their mark in all areas of society. We have done so with style and grace, rejecting the false concept that we must maim our bodies and destroy our offspring to make a difference in the world.
We are women. We have talents. We have children. And for that we should no longer apologize.
________________________________________________
*Dorinda C. Bordlee, is the mother of four young children, and is legal counsel for Americans United for Life, a national public-interest law firm that specializes in all areas of bioethics law and the life issues.
You can contact Dorinda at dbordlee@cox.net.
Contact
Your Catholic Voice
http://www.yourcatholicvoice.org
CA, US
Dorinda C. Bordlee - Mother - Legal Counsel, 661 869-1000
dbordlee@cox.net
Keywords
Life and Love
More Catholic PRWire
Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716
A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain
Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul
A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell
My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz
Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell
Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online
Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online
Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online
State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online
Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online
2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online
Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online
Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online
Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online
Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online
Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online
Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online
Full Circle
Robert Gieb
Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite
Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony
Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell
World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online
Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA
Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online
A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe
Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly
Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard
The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely
Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow
A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow
Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea
Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard
Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol
Edging God Out
Paul Sposite
Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow
George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online
Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell
Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey
Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite
Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol
Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol
Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online
Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online
Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online
Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online
Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online
Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online
Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
Mysteries of the Rosary
-
St. Faustina Kowalska
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
-
Saint of the Day for Wednesday, Oct 4th, 2023
-
Popular Saints
-
St. Francis of Assisi
-
Bible
-
Female / Women Saints
-
7 Morning Prayers you need to get your day started with God
-
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Celebrate St. Francis of Assisi with the top 10 quotes from and for him
-
From St Francis of Assisi to the Faithful: We Must be Simple
-
From Plows to Profit: The Rise of Industrialized Agriculture in America
-
Nehemiah's Wall: A Testament to Faith, Leadership, and Restoration
-
Adorable animals PRAY on St. Francis of Assisi's feast day (PHOTOS)
Daily Catholic
- Daily Readings for Saturday, October 05, 2024
- St. Faustina Kowalska: Saint of the Day for Saturday, October 05, 2024
- Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon of St. Francis of Assisi: Prayer of the Day for Saturday, October 05, 2024
- Daily Readings for Friday, October 04, 2024
- St. Francis of Assisi: Saint of the Day for Friday, October 04, 2024
- St. Francis of Assisi's Vocation Prayer: Prayer of the Day for Friday, October 04, 2024
Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.