Rebecca Kiessling (born July 22, 1969) is an American anti-abortion activist and lawyer. Advocacy focuses on the criminalization of abortion, especially in the case of pregnancy from rape.
Early life
Kiessling was born on July 22, 1969, in Michigan. He grew up in Detroit by a Jewish family and had a bat mitzvah as a teenage girl. He graduated from law school at the age of 23.
During the 1960s, Kiessling's mother was raped at knifepoint and fell pregnant after the attack. He was later advised by his rape counselor that he had an illegal abortion from a back alley clinic since an illegal elective procedure by Michigan law at the time, and consultation with a legal doctor would be expensive. However, he was prevented from getting one because of unhealthy areas and practices there. After she gave birth to Kiessling, her mother gave her up for adoption.
At the age of 19, Kiessling meets his biological mother, Joann, who tells Kiessling that her real father is a serial rapist, whom she describes as "Caucasian and big building". In addition, she told Kiessling that if an abortion was legal upon her pregnancy, she would have an abortion. But six years later, Kiessling's mother pulled back this and said that she was glad her daughter was born.
Video Rebecca Kiessling
Anti-abortion activism
Kiessling became involved with the anti-abortion movement after she learned she was conceived of rape and nearly aborted by her biological mother. She describes her mother's near abortion experience as "life experience, suspended animation". Since then he has advocated restrictions on abortion, including in cases of rape and incest. Kiessling founded "Save The 1", a pro-life organization that serves as a service for women who choose to reject abortion despite being pregnant because of rape. He also serves as the founder of "Hope After Rape Conception" and "Embryo Defense".
Kiessling has been critical of anti-abortion laws that do not include rape exceptions, including the Hyde Amendment which prohibits taxpayer financing on abortion, and the Affordable Care Act which he describes as a "no-weight joke". He also criticized Republican New Jersey Representative Chris Smith for introducing the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, and Senator Rick Santorum for referring to children conceived through rape as a "gift from God" in one of his presidential campaigns in 2012. He also condemning the then Indiana state treasurer, Richard Mourdock, to assert that rape in the context of abortion is "something God wants to happen". Mourdock clarified had been misinterpreted the next day he made the statement.
In March 2017, he spoke to youth pro-life Youth Defense group at the Citizens' Assembly, who debated Ireland's constitutional ban on abortion. In October 2017, Kiessling represented the woman who was attacked by Christopher Mirasolo.
Maps Rebecca Kiessling
Personal life
Kiessling has been married to Robert Kiessling since 1998. They have five children: three biological daughters Carina, Coralie and Contessa, and two adopted children Caleb and Kyler. Initially raised in Jewish faith, Kiessling became a Christian at the age of 23, following an invitation to attend a Mass by a friend after experiencing domestic violence from a girlfriend whom he met in law school.
See also
- Pregnancy from rape
- Gianna Jessen
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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