Insights
Running an obstacle course
To have or not to have . To be or not to be . This is at the center of the debate on abortion . It is a basic , personal decision to have children or not ; to be a mother or not .
But it ’ s not just about the right to have an abortion . It ’ s about birth control and the white male dominated government and religious institutions that believe it ’ s their right to decide what women should and should not do .
When Archbishop Michael Byrnes recently “ renewed his call for the Catholic faithful to rally behind a bill that would further restrict access to abortion on Guam ,” my blood boiled .
His statement reminded me of my own struggle to get access to birth control nearly 50 years ago ; a struggle that was further enflamed when the news arrived that Roe v . Wade was overturned .
The decision of the Supreme Court was intensified in light of the 55 percent of adults who are pro-choice compared to 39 percent who are pro-life . Perhaps more telling is that 61 percent of women are pro-choice versus 48 percent of men .
I knew since my teens that I did not want to have children . But by the time I graduated from college in 1969 and moved to New York City to pursue a career , I was concerned about the long-term health effects of the pill that had gone on the market in 1960 . It was still controversial both medically and morally .
I asked my doctor , Dr . McCaffrey , for a prescription . Unmarried , I steeled myself before I went to my appointment . What would he think of me ? Thankfully , he gave me the prescription without judgement .
By 1975 , married and divorced , I asked Dr . McCaffrey about having a tubal ligation to permanently eliminate the fear of having an unwanted pregnancy .
Voluntary sterilization was looked upon with skepticism and concern but not just for the patient ’ s sake .
Thousands of women and men were victims of eugenics laws in the U . S . from the beginning of the 20th century until
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When Archbishop Michael Byrnes recently “ renewed his call for the Catholic faithful to rally behind a bill that would further restrict access to abortion on Guam ,” my blood boiled . His statement reminded me of my own struggle to get access to birth control nearly 50 years ago .
their repeal by 1975 . Eugenics programs , the involuntary sterilization of people who are deemed unfit to reproduce , were federally funded in 32 states to control “ undesirable ” populations including immigrants , people of color , poor people , unmarried mothers , the disabled , and the mentally ill from reproducing .
But I was a white woman of privilege . I was not mentally unfit , disabled , or a moral degenerate as many had been deemed in courts of law . I was not African American or Native American or Hispanic as so many of the women were who were sterilized without their consent .
Rather , performing a tubal ligation was seen by doctors as a potential threat when women began to come forth , suing them for having their ability to have children taken away from them . My doctors were afraid of being prosecuted if I changed my mind after having the procedure .
Dr . McCaffrey told me to return in two years when I turned 30 and he would give his permission . I agreed knowing I would not change my mind . Two years later , he said he wanted me to consult with a psychotherapist to make sure my decision was sound .
When I met with a therapist , he said he had never been approached by anyone asking for voluntary sterilization . Would I be willing to be the subject of a paper about it ? Amused , I said I would ; he
By Joyce McClure
would get back to me , he said . I called a few weeks later to set up an interview . He replied that he had done some research and found a paper on the topic and had decided not to pursue it . I asked if I could get a copy of the paper . I could not , he said , only medical professionals were allowed to read it .
Frustrated , I made an appointment to see my general practitioner , Dr . McCormack . “ Oh , he ’ s just an old Catholic ,” he said , laughing when I told him about Dr . McCaffery ’ s directive to consult with a psychotherapist . “ Here ’ s the name of another gynecologist who will give you the permission you need .”
After explaining my quest , the new gynecologist paused . “ I ’ ve only been asked to do this one other time … and she was a lesbian .” I thought , “ If she ’ s a lesbian , why would she want to be sterilized ?” He did not give me the permission I needed .
By now I was annoyed by the barriers being put in my way . The surgeon who was head of family planning at the hospital would not do the procedure without a gynecologist ’ s referral .
I went back to Dr . McCaffrey , and he finally relented . But there was one more barrier .
During my appointment with the surgeon , he informed me that I was required to wait one month “ to think about it .” Liability was clearly on his mind . He and his colleagues were well aware of the court cases that were ongoing .
A month later , the date was set for my surgery . Afterward , I was approached by other women who were considering a tubal ligation . They were married , engaged and single . Some had the procedure , others did not . But it was their choice .
Now , 45 years later , the debate about a woman ’ s right to choose is still controlled by largely white male-dominated , privileged government and religious institutions .
The question about who will provide for the needs of those unwanted children and their mothers is ignored , and why they want or need an abortion or birth control is rarely addressed . Instead , they are treated like those who were submitted to eugenics laws as immoral , unstable and irresponsible . The reasons women make these choices are many and difficult , but never the business of anyone other than the woman .
How dare Byrnes say , “ As we defend the lives of the unborn in all our words and actions , we must be firm in our convictions that abortion is an absolute evil ."
Where was he when children were being abused by priests under his command ? Where is he now when women and children are being abused in his community ? Is he willing to raise the children born when a law prevents women from getting the safe healthcare and information they need from reputable organizations ?
He has no right to say he ’ s defending children and no right to infer that women who choose to have an abortion or use birth control are evil . He and his male cronies in the cult of celibate Catholic priesthood are the ones who are immoral and evil .
After a long career as a senior marketing executive , Joyce McClure traded the island of Manhattan for the island of Yap as a Peace Corps Response volunteer in 2016 . She is now a freelance writer and photographer living in Guam . Send feedback to joycemcc62 @ yahoo . com