Ministering to People With Unwanted Pregnancies

[Ernie]

IMO, the obvious solution to unwanted pregnancies is chastity and abstinence from sexual relations. Rape is a problem, and it is sometimes forced upon a person who intends to be chaste. However in many situations, rape is a result of a person being in the wrong company. And no, I don't believe in victim-blaming, unless the victim did indeed contribute to the situation. Then they need to take there share of the blame.

But, regardless of the reasons, mothers do end up in unwanted pregnancy situations and 1 in four women choose abortion. How can Christians minister to women in each of the following situations. Pick one or more and give some suggestions for how we might help...

Why women have abortions
Not ready for a(nother) child/Timing is wrong | 25%
Can’t afford a baby now | 23%
Have completed my childbearing/Have other people depending on me/Children are grown | 19%
Don’t want to be a single mother or am having relationship problems | 8%
Don’t feel mature enough to raise a(nother) child/Feel too young | 7%
Would interfere with education or career plans | 4%
Physical problem with my health | 4%
Possible problems affecting the health of the fetus | 3%
Other | 6%

https://www.umassmed.edu/news/news-arch ... -abortion/

[Ken]

Subsidized or free childcare when the child is born
Subsidized or free prenatal and postnatal healthcare
Subsidized or free housing for single mothers
And finally, subsidized or free job training, internship, and employment opportunities for when you have taken care of the other three.

How does a single young mother who probably lacks a HS education pay for childcare, health care, rent, food, clothing, etc. anywhere in the country on what is likely a minimum wage job? Which, by the way, is still $7.25/hour in much of the south.

Also improved access to contraception and better sex ed so that fewer young women get pregnant in the first place.

[barnhart]

I'm disturbed by the concept of shared blame for rape.

But as for ministering to people with unwanted pregnancy, it should be simple, they need all the things you do, stable relationships, predictable well paying jobs, reasonably priced housing ect... Just imagine your daughter or sister in the same situation in a distant country.

[Soloist]

I'm disturbed by the concept of shared blame for rape.

I think when people think of rape they think of the classic sort of story "a girl is running in the early morning and someone jumps them" Is she at fault?

When many of the stories are a good deal more complex then that. Woman goes to hotel with 1 guy, they start getting active and in the middle the woman changes her mind. Technically unless the man stops immediately he is raping her.
I'm assuming you would see shared blame here?

[Ken]

I'm disturbed by the concept of shared blame for rape.

I think when people think of rape they think of the classic sort of story "a girl is running in the early morning and someone jumps them" Is she at fault?

When many of the stories are a good deal more complex then that. Woman goes to hotel with 1 guy, they start getting active and in the middle the woman changes her mind. Technically unless the man stops immediately he is raping her.
I'm assuming you would see shared blame here?

Seriously?

Do you think there is a point in any situation where a woman loses her right to stay "stop!" and beyond that point must simply submit to being a sexual slave to the man and consent to whatever he wants?

Where to YOU draw that line?

[AnthonyMartin]

Can you name sins that don’t have difficult consequences and cause damage to others in their lives? Do we have these conversations related to caring for those who have diabetes due to gluttony, or respiratory illness related to smoking? Why is this so different that it turns so quickly to blame for the sin?

[barnhart]

I'm disturbed by the concept of shared blame for rape.

I think when people think of rape they think of the classic sort of story "a girl is running in the early morning and someone jumps them" Is she at fault?

When many of the stories are a good deal more complex then that. Woman goes to hotel with 1 guy, they start getting active and in the middle the woman changes her mind. Technically unless the man stops immediately he is raping her.
I'm assuming you would see shared blame here?

No, I don't think so. Forced sexual activity is always the fault of the perpetrator. Her actions were unwise and sinful but not a justification.

[Soloist]

No, I don't think so. Forced sexual activity is always the fault of the perpetrator. Her actions were unwise and sinful but not a justification.

So you see her actions as sinful but not sharing part of the blame? sounds like word play.

[Soloist]

Seriously?

Do you think there is a point in any situation where a woman loses her right to stay "stop!" and beyond that point must simply submit to being a sexual slave to the man and consent to whatever he wants?

Where to YOU draw that line?

I'm talking about sharing blame not about her rights.

[AnthonyMartin]

No, I don't think so. Forced sexual activity is always the fault of the perpetrator. Her actions were unwise and sinful but not a justification.

So you see her actions as sinful but not sharing part of the blame? sounds like word play.

How does blame change the ministering?