This is surprising -- and disappointing. Despite increased modernization and the growth of a college-educated middle class, couples in India still prefer baby boys, according to an Associated Press report. Sex-selected abortions are actually on the rise as families make more money and scale down on the number of children they have, said AP. (Thanks to Salon's Broadsheet for the tip!)

According to UNICEF, about 7,000 fewer girls than expected are born every day in India. According to the British medical journal The Lancet, up to 500,000 female fetuses are being aborted every year. This in a country where abortion is legal but sex-determination tests were outlawed in 1991 — a law nearly impossible to enforce, since ultrasound tests leave no trace.

For a recent report, the group ActionAid sent interviewers to 6,000 households in five north Indian regions. In Punjab state, researchers found rural areas with just 500 girls for every 1,000 boys, and communities of high-caste urbanites with just 300 girls per 1,000.

Around Morena, in an increasingly urbanized part of Madhya Pradesh state, the 2001 census found a total of 851 girls per 1,000 boys — a number ActionAid found had dropped to 842.

Researchers say pressure for smaller families is the most immediate problem.

Ironically, India's growing middle class has used its newfound wealth in the worst way: gaining access to ultrasound tests to abort baby girls. Meanwhile, it's cultural biases and prejudices remain unchanged.

Sorry but I have spent way too much time on the Berkeley Parents Network newsletter. Here is yet another intriguing issue, which we have spoken about before:

A woman wrote to BPN that she was pregnant with her third boy. Initially she went into the ultrasound  not caring whether she had three boys, but has now found herself depressed and even wondering if she should terminate the pregnancy.

While I am always offended at moms who slam boys -- as the mom of a boy I can tell you that boys are great! -- but this woman sounded like she was simply having the maternal blues and I did not begrudge her for that. In fact, I thought it was perfectly normal and natural for her to mourn the daughter she will never have -- if she chooses not to have any more children.

There were actually a couple writers, including this control freak, who saw nothing wrong with aborting a perfectly healthy baby boy she had planned for:

I know you will get lots of the usual advice -- that you will learn to love your 3rd son. However, I think it is important to really look into yourself and decide what is best for you and the child.

My personal story is that I have always wanted to be the mother to girls. Only girls. I could never imagine having a son, and have no idea what I would do with a boy. I strongly dislike all things ''boy''...I can't even go into the boy section of the toy store because it is so dark and violent. I knew deep down inside me that I would not be a good parent to a boy, so when I was pregnant with my first and found it was a boy, we did choose to have a termination. Since then I have gone on to have three healthy daughters, and I couldn't be happier with my life choices. I know that much of the decision to terminate depends on ones religious beliefs, and I am one who has never bought into mainstream religions. I see reproduction as a
biological process rather than spiritual one.

This is a rarely discussed choice that we have as parents, but I know several woman who have also done post-conception gender selection, and all of them are happy. If you feel that you might have troubles with this type of decision in the long run, by all means find an open-minded councelor to aid you in your choice.

Worked for us

I was seething. But she was right: Most of the letters were from happy moms of multiple sons. And while I am sure she will be jumped for her response, I admit, I felt better when I read several letters of this nature:

Being a progressive, liberal-minded political activist mom who learned everything about what NOT to do from my own mom, I set out to have this warm, open, communicative relationship with my children. I envisioned us sharing our inner most thoughts, feelings, dreams and aspirations and them including me in their plans of becoming sexually active, seeking my advice over others and maybe being the open mom that their friends could come to as well.

The legal situation pertaining to abortion here in my homestate, Victoria, is unexpectedly complicated – abortions are performed and are ostensibly legal, but abortion remains a crime on state statutes. This situation is about to change, thankfully. Victoria’s new state premier, John Brumby this week committed to filing legislation that would decriminalize abortion here. Brumby, part of the ruling Australian Labor Party, came to lead the Victorian Parliament last month after the surprise resignation of Steve Bracks. (Bracks declined to decriminalise abortion in the state, despite having a powerful majority behind him and the support of most Victorians.) The Age quotes the following:

"For nearly 40 years the laws relating to abortion have operated in an uncertain legal environment," Mr Brumby said.
[...]
"This means that our existing laws are out of step with community sentiment and current clinical practice," Mr Brumby said.

Mr Brumby said the government would ask the commission for advice on options for abortion law reform, including removing abortion offences from the Crimes Act and clarifying under what circumstances abortion was legal.

The Pope put out a message to Catholic politicians this week, warning them that if they back abortion rights they risk excommunication from the church and should not be allowed to receive communion:

The Pope was asked whether he supported Mexican Church leaders threatening to excommunicate leftist parliamentarians who last month voted to legalize abortion in Mexico City...

"They (Mexican Church leaders) did nothing new, surprising or arbitrary. They simply announced publicly what is contained in the law of the Church... which expresses our appreciation for life and that human individuality, human personality is present from the first moment (of life)."

We probably all remember this topic coming up during John Kerry's 2004 campaign:

During the 2004 presidential election, the U.S. Catholic community was split over whether to support Democratic candidate John Kerry, himself a Catholic who backed abortion rights.

Some Catholics say they personally would not have an abortion but feel obliged to support a woman's right to choose.

But the Church, which teaches that life begins at the moment of conception and that abortion is murder, says Catholics cannot have it both ways.

"The Church says life is beautiful, it is not something to doubt but it is a gift even when it is lived in difficult circumstances. It is always a gift," the Pope said.

I believe that on a personal level, each Catholic has the responsibility to search inside themselves for the answer on controversial topics, including abortion. I reject the idea that just because someone doesn't agree with a stance of the Catholic Church's policies, they should leave the church.  I have been guilty of saying things like that myself, to people I love, and I regret those words.

However, as a Catholic politician or candidate who is also pro-choice, perhaps you are opening yourself up to scrutiny on this issue, including public comment from Church leaders.

Are Catholic politicians who support abortion rights are trying to 'have it both ways'?  

Editor's note: This is an incredibly powerful personal story that TeachPeace posted in a recent comment thread. More people need to read it. It cuts right to the heart of the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision to uphold the "Partial Birth Abortion Ban" and what it means for women and their ability to make profound, personal decisions about their own physical and mental health.
-Amy

My husband was in the Navy and had left on a 6 month deployment the day I found out I was pg w/ my 2nd, but our 1st together.  He was suppose to be home that night and leave for good the following day, but some maintenance-something-or-other w/ his plane meant he was stuck on the ship.  He called to say "I'm not coming home, see you in 6 months."  To which I replied "Guess what, I'm pregnant."  

Everything progressed normally, except I'm convinced it's twins.  The OB says I'm a little big for date, but not big enough to be concerned and there's only one heart beat.  No morning sickness, only some minor food aversions and no other complaints.  Fast forward to 18 weeks when I go in for a routine ultrasound only to learn there were serious anomalies w/ the baby.  

There was a "mass" at the base of the spine, the spinal column was opened -  much like a zipper, and because of the opening in the spine, the baby's brain was being pulled into the spinal column.  I get an immediate referral to a perinatologist who confirms everything from the first ultrasound and adds some more details:  Something about stress on the heart and heart and eventual heart failure and the possibility that the "mass" is a type of tumor (Sacrococcygeal Teratoma - SCT)  In the end it doesn't matter.  The damage to the brain and spinal cord are so severe that the baby isn't viable.  We really only have two choices.  Terminate the pregnancy or wait for nature to do it.