At last, some sense on abortion

Dear The Times,

Your fortright but sensible views on abortion in this morning’s Leader were much appreciated.  Abortion is a desperately sensitive subject and you gave it the respect it deserved.  So often, people lose perspective on this issue as they get tangled up in their own strongly held and commited beliefs.  Thankfully you took a step back and looked at the realities of the situation we are facing.

Across the country there are very very few abortions that take place as late as 24 weeks, and are normally done so when the mother’s health is at risk.  The vast majority of abortions are done before 13 weeks, which offers some comfort.  But having given the numbers, I’m glad you turned your attention to where we go from here.  Contraception campaigns and better support networks are absolutely crucial if we want to make sure that people understand how serious abortion is.  I agree that there is an alarming casualness about abortions, especially amongst young people, and many are still unaware of the possible health risks involved.  Even though I’m glad to see that religion is finally being put to one side in this debate, the physical and psychological impact of abortion is not to be underestimated.

Regards,

A.Tory