'New right' does more than pray over abortion

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"To no form of religion is wo -man indebted for one impulse of freedom, as all alike have taught her inferiority and subjection"'-Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 18151902.

Once again women's rights are being used as a scapegoat by the government and the church to organize a right-wing movement in this country. The campaign against abortion rights has become a tool for the right wing in the United States. Capitalism needs a submissive working class--and where better to start than by bring ing women under the thumb of the government and the church?

The "New Right" is a calition of political, religious, and big business organizations who agree on cutbacks of domestic spending for health and human services, increased military expenditures, and elimination of anti-disçri -mination protection such as affirmative action for women and minorities. They oppose labor unions, workers' rights, and com -parable worth.

The "New Right" is also for the preservation of the family--as they define it. Of course, abortion and contraception do not fit into their picture of "the family."

First--on the legal front--came the Hyde Amendment, which cut funds for abortion for poor women. But when the "New Right" couldn't get enough out of the courts or Congress they resor -ted to acts of terrorism. Ever on -ward do these Christian soldiers march!

Since 1982, more than 33 abortion and health clinics have been bombed. Anti-abortion forces have recently called for a "Year of Fear and Pain" for women who seek abortions and for health care workers who provide them.

This will mean increased harass -ment and violence.

On Nov. 6, two major abortion cases came before the U.S. Su -Dan Hubig preme Court. Lawyers asked that the Court uphold laws in both Pennsylvania and Illinois that had been thrown out by lower federal courts. Both laws required phy -sicians performing late-term abor -ions to use procedures designed to promote the survival of fetuses that have developed enough to live outside the womb.

Opponents of the laws argue that they were designed to dis -courage abortions and that they would endanger the health of women undergoing late-term abor -tions. The Illinois law, say oppo -nents, required doctors to endorse the state government's theory of life.

The Illinois law also required physicians who prescribe contra -ceptives that prevent the fertili -zation of eggs to tell their patients that these are "abortifacients" that "cause fetal death." The law did not specify what contraceptive methods it had in mind, but the most common is the intrauterine device (IUD).

The Pennsylvania law required physicians to keep certain records for the state and to give women seeking abortion specified inform -ation concerning risks and alter -natives. Kathryn Kolbert, of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, told the Court that the information is medically irreleyant and "designed not to inform the woman but to persuade her" not to have an abortion.

Editor: ALAN BENJAMIN Assistant Editor: MICHAEL SCHREIBER Business Manager: DON MAHONEY Circulation Manager: RALPH FORSYTH Al - nAn T.- ... -at San Francisco, Calif.

Army St., No. 308, San Francisco, CA 94110.

countries.

The Reagan administration submitted a "friend of the court" brief last July asking that the Supreme Court throw out its Roe vs. Wade ruling of 1973, which made abortion legal. The brief called the 1973 decision "unwork -able and in violation of 'states rights.

Anti-abortion measures Two anti-abortion initiatives are slated for the 1986 election ballot in California. The first, scheduled for the June election, would amend the state constitution to prohibit the use of taxpayers' dollars, "to compensate.. any person, agency or facility for the performance of any medically induced abortion."

Abortions when necessary to prevent the pregnant woman's imminent death from physical in -jury, etc., are permitted if the legislature so authorizes.

The second major provision of this proposal provides for the "funding for physical care and medical treatment for unborn and prematurely born children and for Staff: Amanda Chapman, Paul Colvin, May Gonzalez, Gus Gregory, Mark Harris, David Kir Carole Seligman, Kwame M.A. Somburu, Sylvia May Gr ing illie schner, JoE an, Weinste in.

for $6 per Army St., care and developmental resources for disabled and handicapped chil -dren." This funding, however, will only last for three years. After that the children and parents are on their own.

The second ballot initiative, scheduled for November 1986, is much simpler. It says, "No public money shall be spent directly or indirectly for the killing of inno -cent human individuals from ferti -lization until natural death."

This initiative does not include abortion in case of the imminent death of the mother. I suppose the "pro-lifers" feel that any woman who may die in childbirth does not deserve to live anyway.

Across the nation those who believe in the "right to choose" are stepping up their activity. The National Organization for Women has called for massive demonstra -tions on March 9 in Washington, D.C., and on March 16 in Los Angeles.

Women must begin to organize; no more silence. "Organize, don't agonize!" must be our slogan.

issue for feminist groups as well.