The Aggressive Campaign for the Social Control of Women

By Dr. Dominic Pedulla, MD, FACC, CNFPMC, ABVM, ACPh
9/5/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Women now have a real opportunity to shake off the social control foisted on them like so many ropes and chains

Exploiting the false narrative of "reproductive health," the Democratic Party has for far too long enjoyed -- uncontested -- the social control of women. Translated, this means not health at all but rather unrestricted, politically guaranteed access to contraception, sterilization, and abortion on demand, without which women allegedly have no real control in their lives.

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EDMOND, OK (Catholic Online) - Exploiting the false narrative of "reproductive health," the Democratic Party has for far too long enjoyed -- uncontested -- the social control of women. Translated, this means not health at all but rather unrestricted, politically guaranteed access to contraception, sterilization, and abortion on demand, without which women allegedly have no real control in their lives.

A woman therefore needs the Democrats to ensure access to these services, and it is only through them that she becomes the captain of her own destiny. This false, contrived, and disgracefully cultivated dependency was on full display in the recent hysterical charge that the Republicans and conservatives were engaging in a "war on women" by opposing Obama's HHS contraceptive mandate, even when the opposition was framed strictly as a defense of religious liberty.

But there are signs everywhere that this heretofore uncontested narrative is beginning to be challenged. For many women the narrative never did make much sense in the first place.

If society is to respect womanhood, they asked, shouldn't solutions be sought which don't require women to engage in hostilities against their own bodies and minds, solutions which, in other words, allow women to truly be women?

And since motherhood and sexuality in women are so intimately associated with one another, would not abortion run the risk of driving a stake right in the heart of at least one crucial part of a woman's identity?

Gradually scientists, physicians, and experts in the social and psychiatric sciences began to take notice, and began to study the mental health outcomes especially of induce abortion, braving in many cases the fiery and passionate anger of the almost monolithic pro-abortion women's health research community, and their Democratic political comrades.

When preliminary studies by Reardon and others suggested a 300% or so increase in suicide rates among women who underwent abortion, it became entirely clear that more determined and comprehensive study was justified, despite loud and vocal recriminations.

When Priscilla Coleman, the world's leading researcher on the negative mental health effects of abortion, published her landmark findings in 2011 in the British Journal of Psychiatry -- a massive metanalysis whose meticulous and scientifically untouchable conclusions demonstrated an 81% increase in adverse mental health outcomes associated with induced abortion.

Adversaries tried every rhetorical and statistical objection in the book to no avail, and the respected journal stood resolutely by her work, despite politically and ideologically motivated calls to disavow it.

Pretty much the same thing has happened with the reports of abortion being associated with increases of breast cancer.

Despite attempts at disavowal and denial, the original findings of Joel Brind and others in this regard -- that women who have induced abortions are at increased risk of developing breast cancer later in life -- have held up and withstood an avalanche of ideologically motivated hyper-scrutiny.

It was also extremely encouraging to see The New York Times criticizing President Obama for his reprehensible condescension to women during the May 14, 2012 commencement speech at Barnard College.

In that speech, as noted by New York Times writer Campbell Brown, President Obama insulted the intelligence of women with deliberately and knowingly false compliments cravenly calculated to win their approval, revealing in the process something other than a deep and abiding respect for women.

Surprisingly and almost unexpectedly, women now have a real opportunity to shake off the social control foisted on them like so many ropes and chains, and decide who really, in the end, is their true friend.

Would she rather trust those who abuse slogan-like references to her "health" for political gains all the while paying no political price? Or should she rather trust those who bravely, and without any discernible credit or payoff, pursue policies revealing a deep respect for womanhood?

The choice seems to be getting easier.

-----
Dominic M. Pedulla MD, FACC, CNFPMC, ABVM, ACPh, President, The Edith Stein Foundation, Social Science Researcher, Interventional Cardiologist

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Dominic Pedulla, Democrats, Republicans, U.S. presidential elections, Romney, Obama, abortion, women, women issues, pro-life, health, breast cancer, suicide

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1 - 10 of 19 Comments

Robert Burford
7 months ago
We saw another example of control last night at the Emmys. Stephen Colbare made a presentation and started his introduction by refering to the War against women. This refers to Romney and his supposed support for life. There were many other obvious comments but this is just one comment on how media tries to influence our morals. Just listen to the "Talk" and it will turn your stomach.
RichStine
8 months ago
I'm frankly nauseated by all of this pandering and posturing.

Men and women are very much alike. The import we ascribe to our gender difference, especially under guise of being pious, is downright sickening.

We say we 'honor' female gender and sex organs with respect and reverence, but the historically vulgar truth is, we, for the most part, relish the concept that we are honorable.

We say we 'honor' male gender and sex organ with respect and reverence, but the historically vulgar truth is that mostly we only wish we could, more than merely ideally.

I see nothing of love or of my Lord in all of this.

The things we ought to address with honor and passion, we overlook, for to really engage in dialogue that would get to the nuts-and-bolts of causation of calamity and why we are at odds with each other...is a very, very uncomfortable road. We are not comfortable with the fact that we are sexual beings, have never matured enough to REALLY talk about it. Women are treated as if children way into their adulthood and into their senior years, and women accept this as what they are to abide, because of tradition and misinterpretation of what a woman is supposed to be.

The Church needs to grow up. Jesus is coming soon, and I don't think he wants His Bride to be a Child.
vance
8 months ago
This article is about political control of women. I remember back in 1961 FBI Chief Herbert Hoover published a book about The Communist Party titled "Masters of Deceit" During the Bill Clinton regime the Democrat Party has become the Communist Party. They are masters of deceit. Today, the "War on Women" is the latest deceitful campaign to get the women vote. Bill Clinton is the 'Rapist-in-Chief" who was impeached. He is the keynote speaker to get the women vote at the convention. Talk about the height of deceit.
Jim
8 months ago
@Alex:
"Jim, you speak the truth. But I wholly adore the first two sentences that Bill wrote, and share the exact same sentiment. But that is no excuse to deny the truth, or to belittle men."

Bill did just that in his post. His words directly say men are clueless and incapable of understanding true sacrifice. Many men have and continue to give their lives for their family. While child birth is an amazing process for many reasons the real battle is raising the child in this messed up world. How do you think a father feels when he he sees the world taking advantage of his kids? You think he just goes about his business and is like "whatever me me me me me." Let's talk about the men in the armed forces that risk life and limb so those women can have the babies. Or lets think about the early men that hunted so the mother could focus on birthing and raising kids. You cannot praise women and fail to praise men at the same time and vice verse. We are one! As Christ said "the two are no longer twain but one flesh." Mark 10:8

@BillSr: Jesus said there is no greater thing on earth than a man who gives his life for his friend. John 15:13 Women give their life for their offspring and men give their life for their family's needs (kids + wife). It is called mutual sacrifice! One sacrifice is not "better" or more worthy of praise. The only one that should be praised to begin with is GOD! When man starts boosting his/her own ego he/she forgets God very easily.

Your interpretation of the Genesis story is equally troubling but I am not about to get into a scriptural debate with you over it. It doesn't matter what happened then or why because Jesus has come, Jesus has died, and we are redeemed. Men are called to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and wives to love their husbands as we love Christ. No where in there did I see the Church demanding, feeding off of, or requiring praise from Jesus! We are grateful for his sacrifice, humble ourselves before him, and know that there is none other like it in all creation!
Bill Sr.
8 months ago
Thanks for the kind words folks.
I will only say this to you. It should be obvious to us that falling in love with Jesus has resulted in so many wonderful female vocations and devout wives and mothers making them superior role models for Christians. And I have found that when men have the good fortune to fall in love with the Blessed Mother, the most pure and holy personification of womanhood ever, the same can happen to them opening our hearts to a whole new and wonderful perception of the faith and God's blessings.
DLL
8 months ago
Bill Sr
You are right and your faith is serving you well and you are articulate and right,as what you are writing is serving your faith and the faithful. Thank you!
DLL
8 months ago
Female Reproductive Hellth,health= unlimited promiscuity.
The real issue the Democrats don't focus on is a 16 trillion debt,8 trillion more than 3 and a half years ago. HOT BUTTON ISSUES ARE MASKING THE REAL ECONOMIC ISSUES. There is no such thing as reproductive rights or gay marriage and they are bubble gum platforms to confuse the poor and divide the country. Catastrophic weather events,jobs,economic demise.false and easy money issues designed to keep people in debt,paying interest charges for the rest of their lives,never paying off their principal on any loan,deficit spending,these are real issues. Health insurance is wealth insurance for the provider not the policy holder,they pay 500,1000,1500 dollar deductibles before those policies pay any medical charges. Remove conscience or GOD from he party platform and anything goes No conscience no heart,just merciless and unjust CHANGE!
vance
8 months ago
Bill Sr, great posts. You articulated many points very well. Great job. Keep up the great posts.
JoAnn
8 months ago
Bill, Sr.: WOW! I'm speechless. Thanks Bill. God bless you.
Alex
8 months ago
Jim, you speak the truth. But I wholly adore the first two sentences that Bill wrote, and share the exact same sentiment. But that is no excuse to deny the truth, or to belittle men. In doing so, you are in fact falling prey to feminism. Let us not lift up or put down any gender beyond their natural place, but let us speak only of where they truthfully stand. Man is to lead woman as Christ leads the Church. Woman is to follow man as the Church follows Christ. Americans need to stop trying to take up the cause of self and pride in the place of God's instruction.

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