Pro-Life Democrats of Tennessee

01/23/2025

After careful thought and reflection, I have decided to let this page go quiet for now. I cannot support a total ban that takes women's lives, and that HAS ALREADY HAPPENED and WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. There's nothing Pro-Life about women being forced to carry dead babies, have miscarriage treatment withheld, or being put in medically precarious positions while we tie doctors' hands.

The Court went too far, and some states are being draconian in their interpretations. Pre-Roe, there were always situations like this that were left to medical discretion. Would that we'd gotten a ruling that allowed for that, or a 9-week ban, or even 15-weeks under certain conditions, as many countries have. Abortion rates have gone up since Dobbs was decided. So much for making abortion rare.

This total ban was not what many Whole-Life Democrats and Progressives were driving at. We're back at a place where women's lives are at risk, and policies that are pulling support for women with children---cutting school lunches, diverting money from public schools, etc.---is being rammed down Tennesseans' throats by the GOP Super-Majority.

That should be common ground for ALL Tennessee Democrats and those who wanted a return to safe, legal (at doctor's discretion), and rare; also common ground of creating and implementing policy that supports women who find themselves in a crisis or unplanned pregnancy.

We should be standing up for HEAD START, WIC, SNAP, public schools, Pell Grants, and the Summer Lunch program that Lee wants to ax. How can we expect women to choose to bear and raise a child, but offer no help once that courageous and daunting decision is made? If Pro-Life Democrats' positions are indistinguishable from Republican ones, why bother to call ourselves Democrats?

We need a more nuanced positioning that acknowledges that sometimes a woman needs a D & C to save her life, and robust support for women who choose to bear a child. Do I sound frustrated?

I AM frustrated. Dobbs has borne strange fruit we were warned about, and that rigidity has cost women their lives, alongside sometimes VERY much wanted children they wanted to bear and raise and love. I'm not suddenly Pro-Choice or for abortion-on-demand, but if "Pro-Life" policies are killing women, I'm not for that, either.

As Democrats, the party, writ-large, insisted on no restrictions, rather than the kinds of compromises many countries have. That extreme helped get us here. I can't celebrate a victory with Dobbs, because it hasn't gotten it right, either.

As a woman whose Pro-Life doctor refused to perform a needed D & C to remove her deceased 10-week of gestation baby, I am troubled that in many places, this is the law of the land, not just a doctor's whim. It was traumatic enough that I never carried a child again, and we adopted, instead.

Women deserved better than Roe. Now it is clear that Dobbs is killing and maiming some women. This isn't what I signed up for as a Pro-Life Feminist and Democrat.

For the foreseeable future, this page is going dark. I don't want to be seen as being on the side of the people who don't care about the unintended consequences of Dobbs and silent on Republican positions that will punish the poor and at-risk children born, but otherwise not provided for or supported.

Is that really what we've wrought by mirroring GOP strictures on abortion? I hope not, but am very afraid we did. That means blood on our hands, and I'm not okay with that. I never have been.

06/24/2022

Today is a day many of us thought would never come. Now we must step up our support for women and children, providing resources for healthcare, counseling, nutrition, parenting classes, housing, and more. That work begins now at a far greater level. Roll up your sleeves, and renew your compassion for mothers and children.
Understand that people on the pro-abortion side are hurting and disillusioned today. Extend to them the same kindness and grace as we give mothers and children. Show them the difference we offer, not the screaming caricature they think we represent.

12/01/2021

Oral arguments audio live in the critical Supreme Court case about Roe today---listen here:

10/07/2021

The other shoe has dropped, friends. Whether you want to reduce the number of abortions or want Roe wiped off the books, those of us who want to support women and children in crisis pregnancies should be reading and listening to all sides on this. We want to be respectful of the differences we may have among Democrats while sharing our own thoughts about what should and should not change.

That women who are already parents are feeling that they can't cope with another little one (as PP often states is the case) or deal with giving up a child after pregnancy, is a tragedy. That's something we have to address with compassion and policy, nationally and in our communities.

Even if I disagree with someone's position, listening helps me understand more about what they're thinking and feeling, which can then inform my (hopefully) thoughtful response. We persuade no one when we are shrill and dogmatic. Don't fall into that trap as you discuss this with family or friends who reach different conclusions than yours. Women and children are ill-served when we resort to a shouting match. It's about them, not politics. Let's remember that.

A federal judge blocked enforcement of a Texas ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a legal blow against a novel law that has severely limited the procedure statewide.

09/03/2021

The conservative WSJ lays out why this ruling isn't what any of us think it is. Whatever happens with Roe, I hope we can all agree that women in crisis pregnancies and those who now feel traumatized by an abortion they regret from their past continue to need our care and support. This is an opportunity for Democrats who care about women and infants and want to offer more options than Planned Parenthood provides desperate women, who often already have children and feel that they can't support one more. I encourage you to take a deep breath and prepare yourself to respond to this important conversation with compassion and an armload of facts. Grab great information from https://www.democratsforlife.org/, https://www.fclny.org/, or https://www.feministsforlife.org/ before engaging---you'll be glad you did!

The Supreme Court was right not to interfere for now, but the statute won’t survive scrutiny on the merits.

08/01/2021

While some of you may not be comfortable with everything in this adoption tale, I still think it has some wonderful, powerful messages. What research is telling us is that many women are choosing to lose their child while partially anesthetized at PP, rather than face the inner turmoil and perceived loss felt when giving birth as a part of an adoption option plan. We need to be able to show that we are empathetic and sympathetic to the tug-of-war women in crisis pregnancies are subjected to. They often conclude that an end to pregnancy is painful but preferable to a life wondering about the child they carried as they grow up. We must address this. For some women, it will mean a pivot from both to parent the child herself and be that support if she needs it, especially if truly on her own. There are some, sadly, that we won't be able to persuade. It's important to let the women who choose to abort that you are there if they are hurting, doubting, or feeling regret, with resources and support groups to help them heal from the trauma some women experience after that choice. And, as an adoptive parent of 3, who also has an adopted grandson, I can testify what a gift that is. In my kids' case, they were abused and neglected, and one parent is in prison for felony murder. The other parent uses multiple drugs, is violent, and has a prostitution record, as well. So there is no rosy picture like the Candyland game at the end for our grown kids. But *private* agency adoptions are often able to negotiate contact and correspondence levels that meet the needs of the birth and adoptive parents. We need to hype this, and fight the idea that choosing adoption is more traumatic, in the long run, than a "quick" abortion, over in hours. What do you think?

07/24/2021

Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice live debate in 30, folks. Join me?

Eventbrite brings people together through live experiences. Discover events that match your passions, or create your own with online ticketing tools.

06/24/2021

You will obviously not agree with some of the women studied who chose to abort their children. It would not be my decision, either. That said, this article gives us a lot to think of, as do the research and interviews discussed. It explains the hangup some have about adoption in a way I have never seen, and reminds me we are failing women when we don't provide women with the financial and emotional support to have their baby. It's an eye-opening read, and challenges some of the assumptions I had. In one way, it's a sad piece of journalism to digest, but if we use it to inform the way we approach women in crisis pregnancies, and the supports we create for them, that could produce a glad, life-affirming outcome for all concerned. That's my hope and prayer. 👩‍🍼

Some American women see giving up their babies as more emotionally painful than terminating their pregnancies.

12/25/2020

The Christmas story is a mirror image of some of the worries and fears felt by a young couple facing a pregnancy and parenthood journey that they had not planned. May we remember this as we reach out with loving support to those facing an unplanned pregnancy, and to those who feel pain or regret after abortion. Happy Holidays, Pro-Life Friends!!! 🎅 Feel free to share!!! 🥰

In the spirit of Christmas, I want us to revisit an old story. Today, I want to show you how the story of Christmas is openly, and unapologetically pro-life.

10/08/2020

A terrific defense of the Catholic vote for Joe Biden, written by the multi-talented whole-life believer, Jeannie Gaffigan. Please do share!

Here is my confession: I am a real Catholic, and I am not going to vote for Donald J. Trump.

08/24/2020

Catherine lays out some salient points here. Why not share this video today with someone who needs to hear it?

"I'm no longer going to have my vote held hostage to an empty promise." Are you a Republican, ex-Republican, or Trump-voter who won’t support the president t...