Reporting rape helps healing - Dianne S. Heynen

In 2006, those who profit from abortion were able to sway a majority of South Dakota voters that exceptions were needed for rape and incest and that a total ban on abortion was "too extreme." Initiative 11, which South Dakota voters will vote on this November, has rape and incest exceptions.

Of course we (meaning everyone but Planned Parenthood) want to see those who commit sex crimes against women and underage girls nailed to the wall of justice, right? Therefore, the measure has been carefully crafted to do just that. Section 8 (1-4) of Initiative 11 requires the abortion provider to notify law enforcement of the rape and, so the crime is prosecutable, they are required to collect biological samples and tissue from the woman and fetus. Planned Parenthood will no longer be able to abort the evidence and give the perp a free pass to go and victimize more women. On a call-in show recently, Kate Looby was asked how many rapes she has reported to law enforcement. She couldn't remember. But, in her deposition for the recent Informed Consent lawsuit that recently was upheld by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, her answer was zero.

Predictably the anti-life camp is taking exception with the exceptions and saying by requiring the reporting of rape we are "retraumatizing women." Dianne Heynen recently addressed this issue from her vantage point of being a post-abortive women herself, and also a mental health professional. This originally appeared in the Argus Leader (July 26, 2008)

DIANNE S. HEYNEN • SIOUX FALLS • JULY 26, 2008 

As a licensed professional mental health counselor who specializes in stress, trauma and grief, I would like to respond to the recent letter in the Argus Leader that accused Initiative Measure 11 of exploiting victims of rape and incest.

Psychologically speaking, the requirement of reporting the rape or incest enables the pregnant victim to take important first steps in healing. Using her voice to hold the perpetrator accountable for his actions helps to break the shame that a victim of rape or incest likely experiences.

One of the most significant tasks for a woman in healing from rape or incest is the telling of her story. When she begins to speak the truth about her experience, her sense of shame diminishes. She begins to move from being a victim to being a survivor. The woman gains a further sense of empowerment as the perpetrator is held accountable. This allows her to protect herself and others from more potential harm from the perpetrator.

Taking this significant step helps the world become a better place and enables her to bring some sense of good from the horrible experience she has had to suffer.