Proposition 4: Institutionalizing Family Communication
There are a number of propositions appearing on California's 2008 General Election Ballot that have ramifications reaching far beyond California's borders. One of these is Proposition 4, which proposes an Amendment to the California State Constitution requiring parental notification in the event that a teenage minor seeks an abortion. The way California voters decide this issue could set the trend for other states the populations of which are considering moral and legal hot button issues.
On the surface, the proposition seems reasonable. I am a parent of a teenage girl, and I would want her to consult with me if she became pregnant and was considering an abortion. Looking just a little bit beyond my initial emotional reaction however, I realize that my daughter and I have a healthy relationship, and she undoubtedly would talk with me if she became pregnant. The next logical question then becomes, "Is a constitutional amendment necessary to require parental notification in the event that a pregnant teenager seeks an abortion?"
CitizenNewscaster's answer to the above question is a resounding "no". In the presence of healthy family relationships, a constitutional amendment to require parental involvement when teens are considering an abortion is not necessary. Why then has a constitutional amendment been proposed?
To find answers to our questions regarding Proposition 4, CitizenNewscaster sought the expertise of a cross-section of society as represented by a legal scholar, a religious leader, an elected office holder, and health services coordinator. Not knowing what opinions we would encounter, CitizenNewscaster was surprised to find unanimity across such a wide spectrum of perspectives indicating that Proposition 4 is ill-advised at best, and dangerous and abusive at worst.
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