Missouri Supreme Court Says Parents Have Rights Too
by Staff
May 7, 2007
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., (christiansunite.com) -- Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Missouri applauds the decision of the Missouri Supreme Court to uphold parental rights and responsibilities when it comes to health decisions regarding their minor daughters. In Planned Parenthood v. Nixon, the court ruled that parents have a right to hold responsible those who performed an abortion on their minor daughter.Bev Ehlen, an Area Director for CWA of Missouri, stated, "The assertion by Planned Parenthood that a fifteen-year-old girl has a First Amendment right to have an abortion without her parent's knowledge, or consent, is absurd. Parents have a right and responsibility to protect their children." Thankfully, the court agreed. Schools require permission for children to receive any kind of medication, yet Planned Parenthood claims that a young girl should be able to have a risky medical procedure performed on her without the knowledge of her parents. "This is not about 'protecting a woman's right to choose,' it is about promoting an agenda and making money off abortions performed on young, uninformed girls."
While Planned Parenthood claimed that this case was about freedom of speech, Bev Ehlen explains that it was about protecting life and parental rights. "A law requiring parents to be informed about their daughter's medical procedure in no way violates free speech. The real concern from opponents of parental consent is the belief that this may hinder minors from going through with an abortion which would reduce the income of abortion providers."
CWA of Missouri believes this decision is a step in the right direction because it upholds the rights of parents and encourages young girls to think more thoroughly about ending the life of an innocent human being.
Concerned Women for America is the nation's largest public policy women's organization.
