By Jim Brown and Jody Brown
June 26, 2003

(AgapePress) - The attorney general of Kansas says abortion providers must inform authorities of all pregnancies of girls under the ages of 16 because such pregnancies are evidence of child abuse.

Kansas law prohibits sex with a child under the age of 16. So upon learning that a young girl under that age is pregnant, abortion providers are required by Kansas law to contact the state's Social and Rehabilitation Services Department. If the department is not open, they are to contact an appropriate law enforcement agency.

Abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood have criticized the opinion of Attorney General Phill Kline -- and have indicated they will refuse to do what he suggests. They point out that Kline has long been what they call "an anti-choice zealot" and that his opinion "reflects his politics." But Kline says the law exists to protect children.

"National statistics demonstrate that children only self-report their abuse -- the victims only approach authorities -- one-half of one percent of the time," Kline says. "So we have to rely on adults who see the evidence of abuse to call on those who are best trained to determine the truth and protect the best interests of the child."

According to Kline, abortions on girls under 14 last year were double the number of child abuse investigations. According to the state's Department of Health and Environment, 88 of the almost 12,000 abortions performed in the state were performed on girls 14 or under.

In an interview with Associated Press, Kline said that except in unlikely cases of artificial insemination, a girl under the age of 16 who is pregnant is either a victim of rape, indecent liberties with a child, or unlawful voluntary sexual relations -- all of which are felonies in Kansas.

The attorney general also recently issued a legal opinion with a simple message: the rape of a child hurts the child. He says he takes serious umbrage with those who argue that a child is not injured by rape and that the resulting pregnancy is not evidence of injury.

"To me that is offensive. That's like saying we can't put a rapist in prison because they might be angry and rape again," he says. "When people violate the law, there are consequences. Additionally, I think that for some, there is a focus on protecting abortion rather than protecting the child -- and we need to protect the child."

Kline says if a "mandatory reporter" such as an abortion provider refuses or fails to report a pregnancy case involving a girl under 16, the individual will face a Class B misdemeanor charge, and could also have some action taken against their license to practice.

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