Here is my stand.
	As a Roman Catholic, I have religious qualms about abortion.
	As a US citizen, I recognize that Roe v Wade is settled law.
	This creates a quandary.
	I believe reasonable people on both sides of the issue can agree that too many abortions occur and that abortion as a routine method of contraception is misguided.
	I support education efforts to inform the public of the medical and emotional consequences of abortion, not only to the unborn but to the mother as well. I strongly support education programs to promote abstinence and believe this has nothing to do with separation of church and state and has everything to do with giving our children a moral compass.
	I do believe that reasonable people on both sides of the issue can agree that late-term, “partial birth”, abortions are an abomination and should be restricted.
	Nonetheless, I recognize that not all share my views and that going back to the 50’s, where illegal abortions were performed by ill-trained abortionists in unsanitary backrooms at great risk to the mother and child, is not the answer.
	I know that this may not be the “sound-bite” people expect.  However, I am running as the “reasonable candidate” and the answer is not pro-life or pro-choice. The answer is: Reason.
	Copyright © 2006 John R. Austin