John Charles Willke (April 5, 1925 – February 20, 2015) was an American author, physician, and anti-abortion activist. He served as president of National Right to Life and, along with his wife Barbara, authored a number of books on abortion and human sexuality.[1] Willke was a leading promoter of the false claim that women's bodies resist pregnancy from forcible rape, an idea which continues to be promoted by some anti-abortion politicians.[1][2]
In the 1950s and 60s, Willke and his wife taught abstinence-only sex education courses for the Catholic Church and became increasingly concerned by the abortion-rights movement.[5] In the early 1970s, he founded Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati along with his wife to lobby against Roe v. Wade. In 1971, Willke and his wife wrote Handbook on Abortion, which sold over a million copies and was influential in the anti-abortion movement.[7] Willke's use of graphic photography pioneered its prominence in anti-abortion materials.[8] The book promoted the false belief that rape could not result in pregnancy, and claimed that women often fabricated accusations of rape.[7][8]
In 1980, he became president of National Right to Life, the nation's oldest and largest anti-abortion organization.[7] In the 1990s, Willke shifted the focus of his arguments away from fetal personhood and instead sought to present the anti-abortion movement as "compassionate to women", in response to opinion polling and test marketing which convinced him that this would be a more effective strategy.[8]
Willke was a proponent of the concept that female rape victims have physiologic defenses against pregnancy, and thus that women rarely become pregnant after a sexual assault. Willke wrote in Christian Life Resources in 1999: "There's no greater emotional trauma that can be experienced by a woman than an assault rape. This can radically upset her possibility of ovulation, fertilization, implantation and even nurturing of a pregnancy". Willke claimed that for what he called "forcible rape" or "assault rape" (which Willke defined as separate from statutory rape) pregnancy is rare, resulting in only approximately four pregnancies per state per year.[1][9] Research published in the Journal of American Obstetrics and Gynecology concluded rape "is a cause of many unwanted pregnancies". A separate study of 405 female rape victims of reproductive age found 6.4% became pregnant.[10][11]
In an interview on August 20, 2012, following the Todd Akin rape and pregnancy controversy, Willke said: "This is a traumatic thing—she's, shall we say, she's uptight. She is frightened, tight, and so on. And sperm, if deposited in her vagina, are less likely to be able to fertilize. The tubes are spastic." Willke's assertions were dismissed as false and outlandish by experts in obstetrics and gynecology.[12][13][14] The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists stated that rape victims had no control over whether they became pregnant, adding that "to suggest otherwise contradicts basic biological truths".[14] Michael Greene, a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive health at Harvard Medical School, dismissed Willke's claims by saying: "There are no words for this—it is just nuts."[12]
After Todd Akin, a U.S. representative from Missouri, made a controversial remark about rape and pregnancy, stating "legitimate rape" rarely results in pregnancy, Willke publicly defended Akin, saying he believed Akin meant to say "forcible rape" not "legitimate rape". The congressman was facing criticism over the phrase "legitimate rape", which was taken to suggest some forms or rape are acceptable. Akin confirmed he misspoke and that Willke was correct in that he did mean to say "forcible rape".[17]
In August 2012, Willke wrote Mitt Romney a letter in which he wrote, "It's time for Republican leaders to rise to the level of Rep. Akin's principle and courage and stand with him and the Republican platform that stands for the protection of every human life."[18] Willke told the Washington bureau of The Daily Telegraph that he had met with Romney during his 2012 presidential campaign, and Romney had praised him saying, "thank you for your support – we agree on almost everything, and if I am elected President I will make some major pro-life pronouncements."[19]
Books and bookletsedit
Handbook on AbortionISBN978-0910728140 First published in 1971, the Handbook on Abortion is an anti-abortion booklet written and published by Willke and his wife. The booklet has been widely distributed, republished, and translated, and has been influential in shaping anti-abortion thought, according to journalist Linda Greenhouse.[20]
^"Cincinnati News, Sports and Things to Do | Cincinnati Enquirer". Enquirer.com. 2017-06-13. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
^ abStafford, Ned (2015). "John C Willke". BMJ: British Medical Journal. 350: h2416. doi:10.1136/bmj.h2416. ISSN 0959-8138. JSTOR 26520200. S2CID 57197317.
^. Archived from the original on 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2010-06-28. Life Issues.org
^ abcRosen, Kenneth R. (2015-02-22). "John C. Willke, Doctor Who Led Fight Against Abortion, Dies at 89". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
^ abcSiegel, Reva B. (2012). "Abortion and the "Woman Question": Forty Years of Debate". Yale Law School Legal Scholarship Repository.
^Willke, John (April 1999). . Life Issues Connector. Christian Life Resources. Archived from the original on 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
^Kliff, Sarah (20 August 2012). "Rep. Todd Akin is wrong about rape and pregnancy, but he's not alone". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
^Holmes, MM; Resnick, HS; Kilpatrick, DG; Best, CL (August 1996). "Rape-related pregnancy: estimates and descriptive characteristics from a national sample of women". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 175 (2): 320–324. doi:10.1016/S0002-9378(96)70141-2. PMID 8765248.
^ ab"Health Experts Dismiss Assertions on Rape". The New York Times. 2012-08-21. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
^Dellorto, Danielle (August 22, 2012). "Experts: Rape does not lower odds of pregnancy". CNN.
^ abGardner, Amanda (August 21, 2012). "No Truth to Akin's Claim That Rape Hinders Pregnancy, Experts Say". U.S. News & World Report.
^Lee, Kristen (2012-08-21). "Pro-life doctor John Willke, linked to Akin's 'forcible rape' claims, endorsed Romney in 2007". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
^. 2007-12-27. Archived from the original on 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
^Pesta, Abigail (August 21, 2012). "Todd Akin Finds a Friend in Dr. John Willke, a Pro-Life 'Founding Father'". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
^Mascaro, Lisa; Kim Geiger (21 August 2012). "campaign 2012 Latest News / Battleground States / Fundraising / Super PAC Spending / Political Cartoons / Opinion Todd Akin touts support from crusader who espoused theories on rape". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
^Swaine, Jon (August 22, 2012). . The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on August 23, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
^"The Rhetoric That Shaped The Abortion Debate". National Public Radio. 2010-06-28. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
john, willke, john, charles, willke, april, 1925, february, 2015, american, author, physician, anti, abortion, activist, served, president, national, right, life, along, with, wife, barbara, authored, number, books, abortion, human, sexuality, willke, leading,. John Charles Willke April 5 1925 February 20 2015 was an American author physician and anti abortion activist He served as president of National Right to Life and along with his wife Barbara authored a number of books on abortion and human sexuality 1 Willke was a leading promoter of the false claim that women s bodies resist pregnancy from forcible rape an idea which continues to be promoted by some anti abortion politicians 1 2 John C WillkeBornJohn Charles Willke 1925 04 05 April 5 1925Maria Stein Ohio United StatesDiedFebruary 20 2015 2015 02 20 aged 89 Cincinnati Ohio United StatesNationalityAmericanKnown forAnti abortion activist and former President of the National Right to Life CommitteeSpouseBarbara Jean Willke c 1923 2013 m c 1948 2013 her deathScientific careerFieldsphysician Contents 1 Life and career 2 Views on pregnancy via rape 3 Political affiliations 4 Books and booklets 5 References 6 External linksLife and career editWillke was born in Maria Stein Ohio the son of Marie Margaret Wuennemann and Gerald Thomas Willke 3 He graduated from Roger Bacon High School in 1942 and earned his M D from the University of Cincinnati in 1948 4 In 1948 he married Babara Hiltz a nurse 5 Willke worked as a family physician in Cincinnati Ohio and was on the staff of the formerly named Providence and Good Samaritan hospitals 6 He stopped practicing medicine in 1988 in order to devote himself full time to the anti abortion movement 1 In the 1950s and 60s Willke and his wife taught abstinence only sex education courses for the Catholic Church and became increasingly concerned by the abortion rights movement 5 In the early 1970s he founded Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati along with his wife to lobby against Roe v Wade In 1971 Willke and his wife wrote Handbook on Abortion which sold over a million copies and was influential in the anti abortion movement 7 Willke s use of graphic photography pioneered its prominence in anti abortion materials 8 The book promoted the false belief that rape could not result in pregnancy and claimed that women often fabricated accusations of rape 7 8 In 1980 he became president of National Right to Life the nation s oldest and largest anti abortion organization 7 In the 1990s Willke shifted the focus of his arguments away from fetal personhood and instead sought to present the anti abortion movement as compassionate to women in response to opinion polling and test marketing which convinced him that this would be a more effective strategy 8 Views on pregnancy via rape editSee also Pregnancy from rape Willke was a proponent of the concept that female rape victims have physiologic defenses against pregnancy and thus that women rarely become pregnant after a sexual assault Willke wrote in Christian Life Resources in 1999 There s no greater emotional trauma that can be experienced by a woman than an assault rape This can radically upset her possibility of ovulation fertilization implantation and even nurturing of a pregnancy Willke claimed that for what he called forcible rape or assault rape which Willke defined as separate from statutory rape pregnancy is rare resulting in only approximately four pregnancies per state per year 1 9 Research published in the Journal of American Obstetrics and Gynecology concluded rape is a cause of many unwanted pregnancies A separate study of 405 female rape victims of reproductive age found 6 4 became pregnant 10 11 In an interview on August 20 2012 following the Todd Akin rape and pregnancy controversy Willke said This is a traumatic thing she s shall we say she s uptight She is frightened tight and so on And sperm if deposited in her vagina are less likely to be able to fertilize The tubes are spastic Willke s assertions were dismissed as false and outlandish by experts in obstetrics and gynecology 12 13 14 The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists stated that rape victims had no control over whether they became pregnant adding that to suggest otherwise contradicts basic biological truths 14 Michael Greene a professor of obstetrics gynecology and reproductive health at Harvard Medical School dismissed Willke s claims by saying There are no words for this it is just nuts 12 Political affiliations editMitt Romney s 2008 presidential campaign embraced Willke as an important surrogate for Governor Romney s pro life and pro family agenda 15 and Romney expressed pride to have the support of a man who has meant so much to the pro life movement in our country 16 After Todd Akin a U S representative from Missouri made a controversial remark about rape and pregnancy stating legitimate rape rarely results in pregnancy Willke publicly defended Akin saying he believed Akin meant to say forcible rape not legitimate rape The congressman was facing criticism over the phrase legitimate rape which was taken to suggest some forms or rape are acceptable Akin confirmed he misspoke and that Willke was correct in that he did mean to say forcible rape 17 In August 2012 Willke wrote Mitt Romney a letter in which he wrote It s time for Republican leaders to rise to the level of Rep Akin s principle and courage and stand with him and the Republican platform that stands for the protection of every human life 18 Willke told the Washington bureau of The Daily Telegraph that he had met with Romney during his 2012 presidential campaign and Romney had praised him saying thank you for your support we agree on almost everything and if I am elected President I will make some major pro life pronouncements 19 Books and booklets editHandbook on Abortion ISBN 978 0910728140 First published in 1971 the Handbook on Abortion is an anti abortion booklet written and published by Willke and his wife The booklet has been widely distributed republished and translated and has been influential in shaping anti abortion thought according to journalist Linda Greenhouse 20 Abortion and Slavery History Repeats ISBN 978 0685087824 How to Teach Children the Wonder of Sex a guide for parents and teachers ISBN 978 0910728171 Assisted Suicide amp Euthanasia Past amp Present ISBN 978 0910728225 Abortion Questions and Answers Why Can t We Love Them Both ISBN 978 0318351650 Abortion and the Pro life Movement An Inside View 2014 References edit a b c d Smyth Julie August 24 2012 Ohio doctor helps perpetuate rape pregnancy ideas Associated Press Archived from the original on August 26 2012 Retrieved August 24 2012 Anti Abortion Advocate Dr John Willke Dies at 89 in Ohio abcnews go com February 21 2015 Archived from the original on February 21 2015 Who s who in Religion Marquis Who s Who 1992 ISBN 9780837916040 Cincinnati News Sports and Things to Do Cincinnati Enquirer Enquirer com 2017 06 13 Retrieved 2021 06 13 a b Stafford Ned 2015 John C Willke BMJ British Medical Journal 350 h2416 doi 10 1136 bmj h2416 ISSN 0959 8138 JSTOR 26520200 S2CID 57197317 Life Issues Institute Inc Dr Willke Archived from the original on 2011 05 24 Retrieved 2010 06 28 Life Issues org a b c Rosen Kenneth R 2015 02 22 John C Willke Doctor Who Led Fight Against Abortion Dies at 89 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2019 05 28 a b c Siegel Reva B 2012 Abortion and the Woman Question Forty Years of Debate Yale Law School Legal Scholarship Repository Willke John April 1999 Rape Pregnancies Are Rare Life Issues Connector Christian Life Resources Archived from the original on 2013 04 19 Retrieved 2012 08 21 Kliff Sarah 20 August 2012 Rep Todd Akin is wrong about rape and pregnancy but he s not alone The Washington Post Retrieved 1 April 2015 Holmes MM Resnick HS Kilpatrick DG Best CL August 1996 Rape related pregnancy estimates and descriptive characteristics from a national sample of women American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 175 2 320 324 doi 10 1016 S0002 9378 96 70141 2 PMID 8765248 a b Health Experts Dismiss Assertions on Rape The New York Times 2012 08 21 Retrieved 2012 08 21 Dellorto Danielle August 22 2012 Experts Rape does not lower odds of pregnancy CNN a b Gardner Amanda August 21 2012 No Truth to Akin s Claim That Rape Hinders Pregnancy Experts Say U S News amp World Report Lee Kristen 2012 08 21 Pro life doctor John Willke linked to Akin s forcible rape claims endorsed Romney in 2007 New York Daily News Retrieved 2012 08 21 Dr John Willke A Founder Of The Pro Life Movement Nationally amp Internationally Endorses Gov Romney 2007 12 27 Archived from the original on 2007 12 27 Retrieved 2019 05 28 Pesta Abigail August 21 2012 Todd Akin Finds a Friend in Dr John Willke a Pro Life Founding Father The Daily Beast Retrieved 12 April 2015 Mascaro Lisa Kim Geiger 21 August 2012 campaign 2012 Latest News Battleground States Fundraising Super PAC Spending Political Cartoons Opinion Todd Akin touts support from crusader who espoused theories on rape Los Angeles Times Retrieved 2012 08 22 Swaine Jon August 22 2012 US election Mitt Romney met Todd Akin doctor Jack Willke during 2012 campaign The Daily Telegraph Archived from the original on August 23 2012 Retrieved September 24 2017 The Rhetoric That Shaped The Abortion Debate National Public Radio 2010 06 28 Retrieved 2010 06 30 External links editAppearances on C SPAN Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John C Willke amp oldid 1106082286, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
