This is a very 'interesting' e-mail that we just got in from one of our members. I am amazed these days at how many young women have been coming up to me and telling me of disturbing experiences they have had that are similar to this. Very recently I had a young woman share with me that when she found out she was pregnant, she was in her doctor's office and he presented to her the 'choice' of abortion. She told him that she did not want to go that route. He proceeded to agressively council her to abort her pregnancy. She again explained that she wanted to keep the baby. After this he referred her to a psychiatrist who proceeded to 'pressure her' to have an abortion. I was amazed. This girl is level headed and has her head screwed on right. Her testimony (and a few others like it that have been shared with me since) give pretty strong evidence that the pro-choice stance is not always one that is encouraging our young women to make their own choices....wow.

Here is the e-mail we just got....

"I wanted to share something with you about my experience surrounding the abortion I had. I am not going to explain too much.. just what is in my heart as relevant to share with you.

When I was in the pre-op room I know that I heard the still small voice of my conscience. I also know that something was trying to speak to me during the time I found out that I was pregnant and the day I went to the hospital. I had a gut feeling I should not go through with it. Anyway, when I tried to tell my "friend" that I wanted to change my mind she did the opposite than support me. She went to get the nurse and they gave me something to sedate me. ( Ahh.. I hate this part of it the most - please forgive me). I tried to tell the nurse but I wasn't strong enough to stand up to both of them. I took the drugs and was so whacked out by the time of the abortion that I could not even think straight, never mind resist even though I did not want to do it.

I want people to know what I went through so they know how to pray and to find strength and ecouragment not to do it.

I am very sorry that I had the abortion and that I did not stand up to them when they drugged me up." Cindy (Grimsby, Ontario)

Here are some more amazing e-mails from youth in our network sent their MP about C-22:

Dear Mr. Goodyear

I am 15 years old and concerned that the age of consent is still 14. I ask you to support Bill C-22 and raise the age of consent to 16. This will give some protection to the youth who are vulnerable to sexual exploitation from so many different sides. Also, it will give protection to all other kids of that age.

Thank you for your consideration on this issue.

Sincerely,

Louisa

*******

Dear Mr. Goodyear;

I was recently at a youth conference and the issue of raising the age of consent was talked about. I think that it is important that the age of consent be raised. Supporting Bill C-22 is critical. It will help ensure that many more kids at risk are protected from sexual predators and will make for a stronger Canada in the future.

Thank you for all the good work that you are doing as our representative in Parliament.

Respectfully,

Tereza

Here are some e-mails that were sent into MPs from youth that were present at the Justice Committee when Faytene presented regarding C-22. They are powerful. They just cc'd us on them so we wanted to share them with you too!

"The age of consent is 14 right now, and I'm 14, and some of the people there said that all people around my age have sex. That's not true, because my friends wear purity rings, and some of us made a commitment to abstain from sex. I know that's not everyone but those people in there, didn't think of people like me and my friends.

I can vote at 18 and have sex at 14. Let's say you were running for Prime Minister or something, and I had sex, what would be more effective to this country? My vote? Or my sex life? I think that the age should be higher, from 14 to 16 is good and all but let's raise our standards a little higher, and say 18." - Maddy

"I am 13 years old and will be turning 14 next month so this meeting pertains to me and I would like to share my opinion with you. I want the age for consentual sex to be raised from 14 to 16. I don't think that trying to give children more education about sex in school will make that much of a difference in whether they have healthy sex with someone or not. I know that for me personally I learned about sex from my parents and from different books, not from school. Most kids don't even listen in school when they are being taught about sex because it is really awkward for both them and the teacher.
Until I attended this meeting I did not know anything really about the age of consent or even that there was one. The reason why most kids don't tell adults or even their friends about having sex is not because they think that they will get in trouble with the law. It is because they feel enbarassed and shameful about what they did." - Raelynne