Cord Byrd: “it has always been my firm belief that minors should be required to notify their parents prior to seeking an abortion. I…”

“it has always been my firm belief that minors should be required to notify their parents prior to seeking an abortion. I cannot help but believe that in nearly every case, young women do themselves, their babies, and their families well to seek guidance from their parents or legal guardians before making such a serious decision. Most parents honestly do have their daughters' best interests at heart. Consequently, how can parents not be informed when their children are confronted with making one of the most critical decisions of their lives, one which carries with it such extraordinary, expensive, and irretrievable consequences? I have a long history of support for parental notification in such difficult circumstances. In 1991, I supported legislation that would have required entities receiving grants under Title X of the Public Health Service Act to provide parental notification in the case of minor patients seeking abortions. While I support parental notification, I would also observe that we, as a nation, must work harder and do more to ensure that young women understand the consequences of unwanted pregnancy before they find themselves in such a predicament. We need to return to a time when abstinence was respected, not denigrated. A time when young men and women were praised and rewarded spiritually, emotionally, and financially--for doing the right thing.…”