Bernard Nathanson

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For the Hebrew writer, see Bernhard Nathanson.
After Dark
in 1997

Bernard N. Nathanson (July 31, 1926 – February 21, 2011) was an American

anti-abortion activist. He was the narrator for the controversial 1984 anti-abortion film The Silent Scream
.

Early life and education

Nathanson was born in New York City. His father was an obstetrician/gynecologist,[1] the same career that Nathanson held in his professional life. Nathanson earned his undergraduate degree at Cornell University[2] and in 1949 graduated with a medical degree from McGill University Faculty of Medicine in Montreal.[3]

Career

Nathanson was licensed to practice medicine in New York state in 1952,

gynecology in 1960.[1] He was for a time the director of the Center for Reproductive and Sexual Health (CRASH), then the largest free-standing abortion facility in the world. In 1974, Nathanson wrote: "I am deeply troubled by my own increasing certainty that I had in fact presided over 60,000 deaths."[4] He also wrote that he performed an abortion on a woman whom he had impregnated.[5][non-primary source needed
]

Activism

Pro-abortion rights

Originally an

NARAL Pro-Choice America).[6] He worked with Betty Friedan and others for the legalization of abortion in the United States. Their efforts essentially succeeded with the Roe v. Wade
decision.

Anti-abortion

With the development of

late-term abortions. He stated that the numbers he once cited for Naral concerning the number of deaths linked to illegal abortions were "false figures."[8][9][10]

Referring to his previous work as an abortion provider and abortion rights activist, he wrote in his 1996 autobiography, Hand of God: "I am one of those who helped usher in this barbaric age."[1] Nathanson developed what he called the "vector theory of life," which states that from the moment of conception, there exists "a self-directed force of life that, if not interrupted, will lead to the birth of a human baby."[1]

Religious conversion

Nathanson grew up

Confirmation and first Communion from the cardinal. When asked why he converted to Roman Catholicism, he stated that "no religion matches the special role for forgiveness that is afforded by the Catholic Church."[11]

Personal life and death

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Nathanson married four times; his first three marriages ended in divorce.[1]

He died of cancer in New York on February 21, 2011, at the age of 84. He was survived by his fourth wife Christine Reisner-Nathanson whom he married in the church shortly after his 1996 baptism. He was also survived by his son Joseph,[1][12][13] from his second marriage with wife Rosemary.[14]

Works

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Vincent, Stephen (21 February 2011). "Bernard Nathanson Dead at 84" Archived 2019-03-05 at the Wayback Machine, National Catholic Register, EWTN NEWS. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  2. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  3. ^ a b NYS Professions
  4. PMID 4418905
    .
  5. ^ The Hand of God, pp. 58–59. "In the mid-sixties, I impregnated a woman… and I not only demanded that she terminate the pregnancy… but also coolly informed her that since I was one of the most skilled practitioners of the art, I myself would do the abortion. And I did."
  6. ^ "NARAL Pro-Choice America". InfluenceWatch. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  7. ^ Video of the 1983 CHCH-TV debate, youtube.com
  8. ^ "Confession of an ex-abortionist", Dr. Bernard Nathanson[non-primary source needed] Archived April 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Nathanson, Bernard. Aborting America. Doubleday & Co: Garden City, 1979, p. 193: "I confess that I knew the figures were totally false, and I suppose the others did too if they stopped to think of it."
  10. ^ "Naral Pro-Choice America". InfluenceWatch. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  11. ^ "DR. BERNARD NATHANSON, R.I.P." Chatterbox... Catholic League (U.S.). Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  12. ^ "Dr. Nathanson, abortion proponent turned pro-life advocate, dies at 84". Archdiocese of Baltimore. 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  13. ^ "Bernard Nathanson's Conversion | EWTN". EWTN Global Catholic Television Network. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  14. ISBN 0-89526-463-3
    .

External links

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