......Governor wants evidence of harm to women, society.

By Jennifer Mesko, Associate Editor, CITIZENLINK, 10-30-2007

The Governor's Task Force on the Impact of Abortion on Women will examine the physical, emotional, social and economic effects of abortion on Missouri women. Republican Gov. Matt Blunt launched the effort last week.

Cindy Province, co-founder of the Center for Bioethics and Culture-Missouri, was asked by Blunt's administration to help recruit task-force members. She said the task force intends to look for "truthful, honest information" from researchers about the procedure's effects on women.

"We're trying to get good evidence about the effect of abortion on women and make decisions about what the state can do to help women who find themselves in the situation of an unplanned pregnancy," she told The Associated Press.

Blunt said at a recent press conference that he will begin the task force with the "presumption that abortion has a negative impact on Missouri children, Missouri women, Missouri men, because it's harmful to society."

Carrie Gordon Earll, senior analyst for bioethics at Focus on the Family Action, said, "One of abortion's biggest lies is that it doesn't harm women. Women in unexpected pregnancies turn to abortion believing that it will end their pregnancy without risk to their own physical and mental health. We know from published studies and individual experiences that this is untrue.

"Each time the dangers of abortion are publicized — as will now be the case in Missouri — more women become aware of the risks they take with abortion."