Heather King

In the following viewpoint, Heather King, a woman who has had three abortions, explains why she now believes the procedure is not ethical. King explains that her decision to abort was based on selfish reasons, such as her unwillingness to disrupt her life and adopt a less extravagant lifestyle. According to King, her changed view was influenced in part by the works of Flannery O’Connor, a twentieth-century American author famous for her portrayal of Southern life. King contends that abortion is evil because it is an act of violence and profanes the act of procreation. King is a Los Angeles–based writer and former lawyer.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to King, how was her life like a prison sentence?
2. In the author’s opinion, why is it wrong to justify abortion on compassionate...