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The U.S. Roman Catholic bishops issued a pastoral letter that would criticize abortion and end the disgrace of having an abortion under law.

My mother was born to an unwed 15 year old in 1940. My mother was given away in adoption to a family member. My grandmother wanted to have my mom (she had fallen in love with a service man who was killed in German) but her mom wanted her to have an abortion. It was illegal in those days and my grandmother refused to go to the "special doctor." So she was shipped away to a home for girls like her in Chicago to have my mom. My story is different then most. I am a product of a saved baby. Without my grandmother fighting for my mom, myself, my brother, my children, we would be dead. It is harder to speak to a child that survived abortion. No one has the right to tell me that we do not have the right to live. I am so grateful that abortion was illegal. I am so grateful that my beautiful children are alive.We are blessed.

Whenever this issue comes up one thing always pops into my head. My body, my choice. I am a female that was born and raised in the Catholic church and had to listen to this stuff for years. It never made sense to me why so many people try revoking this right from women. If you don't support it, fine. However, to take the option away from women who do want abortion as an option opens up even more negative doors. When women do not have a safe environment to discuss these options and the operation itself is made illegal then women who are desperate are more likely to go to back alley doctors or try to perform their own abortion. This often leads to more deaths among women whether it be from a botched, cheap operation or a horrific infection. It should also be noted that each woman is different. They might want the option of abortion for various reasons. Perhaps something is wrong with the child, and the doctors note it won't live past a couple of days, maybe the woman was raped and ended up pregnant, perhaps the fetus was dying and was also killing the mother, perhaps the woman just doesn't want children. You never know the circumstances of why a woman chooses to have an abortion, and they should never be judged for it or have that right revoked.

This article goes a bit into detail on the war between social justice and religious freedom. It discusses how religion should be something of a personal freedom and how the government at times has attempted to coerce and manage on how religions go about their business.

Even though mental illness is a common problem it's handled very poorly. People with mental illness struggle to get help for a variety of reasons. They lack the money to pay for therapy and the support they need.

Mental health definitely needs funding. A lack of funding will result in higher poverty and an increased suicide rate among the disabled. Not too long ago the mentally ill were put in asylums. Being someone who has Asperger's Syndrome I have experienced shutdowns and anxiety. At my last college I was unofficially withdrawn. When I have anxiety I often cannot leave my bedroom and school has become very difficult.

The main reason many do not seek professional help is not due to money, but the stigma that society places on someone with mental illness. Suffering in silence is a common way to handle the disease. Many also self medicate with alcohol and drugs. There is free help out there, just have to look for it. Catholic Family Services and Christian Church groups are there to those who ask for the help. The first step is to ask.