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'Abortion Addict' Ended 15 Pregnancies

In controversial memoir, Irene Vilar says legal abortion saved her life

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 13, 2009 12:51 PM CDT

(Newser) – Once an “abortion addict,” Irene Vilar is making waves on both sides of the contentious debate with her memoir of the 15 pregnancies she terminated—including one she had forgotten about. One pro-life blogger called for her to be thrown in jail; as for the other side, “the majority of pro-choicers—and I don't blame them—are somewhat confused,” Vilar tells the Los Angeles Times.

Vilar, granddaughter of a famous Puerto Rican nationalist, now has two daughters; she says the abortions she had between ages 16 and 33 were partly a result of her 11-year marriage to a man who saw children as an end to freedom. She feels she let the feminist movement down: “They risked their lives to give me this, and I abused that right.” But Vilar also says she would have gotten the abortions through any means necessary, and credits legal abortion with saving her life.

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (2)]

The cover of "Impossible Motherhood" is shown. (IreneVilar.com)

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There is a perfectly human tendency to say we can't afford ambiguity, we can't afford nuance. I am afraid it comes from years of being pummeled by the extreme, anti-choice right. The truth is that it's a complicated issue. - Robin Morgan, feminist author

Her story is just so tragic. It really underscores everything we always say in the pro-life movement—that abortion is part of a very sad story for women. - Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 60 comments

Silverbow7

Jan 7, 2010 4:58 AM CST

Maybe God expects common sense. We are going for 7 Billion people and serious suffering.. Those babies lost to miscarriages.... who is going to hell for that? The soul is breathed into the baby's mouth and it then becomes a living soul. First breath. Not first contact.

cochiserocks

Oct 16, 2009 10:17 AM CDT

er....nope that was not what I'm saying - as I think anyone with a half a brain cell can clearly see - I'm suggesting she is perhaps mentally ill and that counselling and treatment would benefit her - after all - that many surgical procedures (I have no idea how far she was with each abortion but for the sake of this debate, lets assume if she was careless that many times, she was perhaps less than prompt in dealing with it) IS bad for your health - and given the amount of vasectomies and other options - (for her PARTNERS - not just her) - perhaps if she was in a rational, healthy state of mind she would have considered them. 'Thinker' - Hmmmmmm....is that irony or sarcasm you're exercising in your choice of posting name?

plstyle

Oct 15, 2009 4:51 AM CDT

wow, I am sure blessed to never have loved a woman this crazy

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Health • Entertainment • US

abortion • motherhood • memoir • book • pro-life • abortion debate • pro-choice • Irene Vilar

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'Abortion Addict' Ended 15 Pregnancies