The Georgia Bulletin

Fri, Jan 9, 2009


What I Have Seen and Heard - Archbishop Gregory's Weekly Column

Print Issue: June 7, 1979

Right To Life: Governor Busbee Contacted

The new head of the state’s largest anti-abortion group called Monday for an investigation of the Atlanta area abortion clinics. In a statement issued from her Dekalb County home, Mrs. Charlie Bowman, Chairman of the 12,000-plus member Georgia Right to Life Committee, said, “We call on Governor George Busbee to instruct the state Department of Human Resources to launch a comprehensive investigation of the so-called ‘safe and legal’ abortion chambers in Atlanta.”

Mrs. Bowman’s statement came in the wake of an incident at an Atlanta Abortion chamber which left two girls, aged 15 and 19, in very critical condition at Grady Hospital where they were transported after anesthesia mishaps.

Mrs. Bowman continued, “The state exists to protect its citizens. Despite his previous lack of support for the pro-life position, Governor Busbee has a responsibility to ensure the state provides whatever protection is possible within the confines or court decisions. The Department of Human Resources has been totally lax in developing and enforcing rules and regulations controlling abortion in Georgia.”

She added that the incident would give the pro-life group additional ammunition in their fight to get stronger anti-abortion laws: “The abortionists” chant is “Keep abortion safe and legal.” While there can be no argument that it is legal -- with over a million babies killed each year in the U.S. -- this incident raises additional serious questions about its safety -- except for the abortionist himself. Abortion is virtually one hundred percent fatal for the unborn child. It is always highly risky for the mother.

“During pro-life talks, we used to state that the woman could possibly suffer infection, hemorrhage, uterine perforation and later menstrual disturbances. Now, to those, we must add, cardiac arrest due to the improper anesthesia.”

In reference to the ages of the two girls in critical condition, Mrs. Bowman stated, “Under the courts’ rulings, the parents of both the 15-year-old and the 19-year-old did not have to be informed of the abortions. Abortionists have vigorously fought any attempt to require parental notifications, much less consent. The most amazing fact is that if the 15-year-old wanted her ears pierced, many Atlanta department stores would not do it without written permission from her parents.”

Mrs. Bowman will head a Georgia delegation to the National Right to Life Convention in Cincinnati, June 21-24. She stated that she plans to bring up these two incidents during sessions on how state pro-life groups may restrict the practice of abortion through legal and legislative means.