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i 1 EN nd EE a 7 A AN {a Ln CTT Abortion isn't the only issue with Right to Life PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, January 28, 1986 -- 11 Fighting for lives of the innocent by Cathy Robb Fighting for the unborn is, not Right to Life's only mandate, accor- ~ ding to its members. 0) While struggling against the coun- try's abortion laws (and in Dr. Henry Morgentaler s case, un-laws) is the group's main priority, abor- tion isn't the only area where Right to Life supporters work. "We're not just sitting here con- demning girls and women who have abortions," said member Jay Madsen at a regular Right to Life meeting last Thursday night. The meetings are held in the Scugog Municipal office in a small back room more than big enough for the small group. Because of other commitments and the inclement weather, only three people were at Thursday's meeting. Maybe in other groups the meeting would have been cancelled, but the trio forged ahead. ""There's usually more people here than this, said a slightly em- barrassed Regina Gadge, chairper- son of the Scugog branch of the organization. Right to Life is a mammoth operation with members all over the country. Durham Right to Life has been in business for nearly 15 years but it was only five months ago that a few local members decided they could do more work within Scugog Township if they organized their own meetings. The "work" they are referring to is controversial, especially in the light of what is happening in the case of Dr. Morgentaler. Right to Life is the philosophical opposite of pro-abortion groups and the two organizations, as different as night and day, clash often in front of the famous doctor's abortion clinic. It's part of Right to Life's *'work"' to maintain a daily picket line in front of the clinic and each of the . Scugog members have spent time marching up dnd down the street, trying to convince women on their way to abortions that there are other ways of dealing with unwanted children. They also do it for exposure, publicity and in order to get their point across, but if they can talk one pregnant women out of an abortion, they feel they've accomplished something. Pro-abortionists call this "hassl- ing," but the Scugog Right to Lifers say it is anything but. '"There's none of that, 'Oh, you're going in there to murder your child!' Mr. Madsen said pointedly. Linda Van Andel, another member of the group, says their ap- proach is more subtle and only directed towards those women who look confused, lost or unsure about their decision to abort. In most cases, those women are offered a card, listing a Right to Life phone number, where they can call either before or after an abortion with questions or problems. "Really, what's needed more than hassling is a warm, sincere person," Mrs. Van Andel said. "Let's say, if six months after the abortion they have bad feelings -- they can come and see us and we'll do what we can to help." Which is the reason why Right to Life members are involved with more than fighting abortions. They say they're more than willing to of- fer counselling or advice, or even just a sympathetic ear, to anyone who needs it. © Of course,' their number one priority is preventing abortion whenever they can. Officially, the only time the organization condones abortion is when a pregnancy en- dangers the life of the mother. 'And how often does that happen, with technology and medicine the way it is now?" Mr. Madsen asked. "We don't deny women have pro- blems when they have babies but maybe we can help them look after it another way besides abortion." "It is, really, a black and white issue, but there's more to it,' Mrs. Van Andel said. 'I suppose ideally it would be nice to see abortion banned, even in hospitals, because I think the easier they are to get, the more they'll be used." Jay Madsen belongs to the group because he has a friend, now with children of her own, who had an abortion years ago. He says she looks back often and wonders what kind of person her unborn child might have been. It's a more serious issue for the person who has had an abortion, even a long time afterwards," he said. "They ask, what about the child? What would he or she have been like? The person who might - have grown up to find a ture for cancer might have been aborted last week." Basically, the group exists to show women other alternatives to abortion. In some cases, members have gone so far as to take pregnant women into their own homes until the baby is born. In Scugog, the group is busily try- ing to promote itself with ads in this newspaper and information booths set up at various functions, in- cluding last summer's Festival : FO Days. Some day soon, they hope, Scugog's Right to Life members will require a bigger meeting room. More information about Right to Life is available by calling any of its members, Jay Madsen, Linda Van Andel and Regina Gadge aren't the only three folks in Scugog Township who believe unborns have a Right To Life ---- the organization is a large one, spreading all over the country. See story for details. 1 WE HAVE ... | 8 Copies of Rambo - First Blood 11 6 Copies of St. EImo's Fire 9 Copies of Mad Max - Beyond the Thunderdome 6 Copies of Beverly Hills Cop MAXIMUM VIDEO HAS CIN FAVOURITE HIT MOVIES 5 Copies of My Science Proje 7 Copies of Mask 4 Copies of Pale Rider 5 Copies of Prizzi's Honour 6 Copies of Ghostbusters 4 Copies of Code of Silence Tn MAKE YOUR DAY THIS WEEK .... 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