I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but some pretty famous people have been talking about abortion the last few days. One of them was the President of the United States, and he said that we need to “open our hearts and minds to those who may not think like we do… [and] discover at least the possibility of common ground,” while also admitting that “…the views of the two camps are irreconcilable.”
That second quote is right on. As much as we talk about common ground and having open minds, you’ve got to think about this point: we believe that abortion is murder, and the other side does not. Now I’m no super-genius, but it seems like there’s a pretty huge gap between those two ideas. If we’re pro-life, if we’re really pro-life and are willing to stick our necks out for it, what kind of compromise is there?
Less < None
One of the biggest ‘common ground’ ideas is focusing on reducing abortions. Sounds great! Let’s have less abortions, because that means less babies are denied the chance to live their lives! Yay! But wait… why would someone who’s pro-choice care about lowering abortions? I mean, it’s just a medical procedure, right? Let’s check back in with the leader of the free world: “…[abortion] is a heart wrenching decision for any woman to make, with both moral and spiritual dimensions.”
Huh? But the pro-choice view says it’s not a baby – it’s just tissue. They say it’s not murder, it’s just a procedure. (This emotionless way of looking at is much more popular with abortion providers than the mothers who are their victims.) What moral and spiritual dimensions are there if our current abortion laws are good? What is a “moral and spiritual dimension?”
But wait… if it is a child that’s being lost, the situation is entirely heart-wrenching – and the moral and spiritual dimensions become obvious. Here’s the thing, though; if that’s a baby, then agreeing to have less murder isn’t really a great compromise – is it?
The Other ‘A’ Word
Another incomplete solution to the problem is the idea that we can simply make abortion a less appealing option by promoting its alternatives (support for single mothers, easier adoptions, etc..). Unfortunately, this often goes hand-in-hand with the promotion of contraception and birth control – same problem, different tool. Some of the alternatives are valuable and important. I myself was adopted, and it has been a tremendous source of grace in my life… it’s also something I’ve thanked my birthmother for more than once. Maybe I’m biased, but I’m pretty stoked she chose adoption over abortion.
So what’s the point of all this? Why write another article stating what so many have said before? It boils down to this: to be pro-life is to stand against murder in all its forms, and abortion is undeniably one of its forms. So while we as a Church can have open dialogue and promote alternatives, we can never accept anything less than an end to abortion.
Changing Tides?
But while presidents of both countries and universities wade in lukewarm waters, there are new signs of hope in the battle to save children. For the first time since they started polling, Gallup has found that a majority – a tiny, 51% majority – of Americans call themselves ‘pro-life.’ What does that look like? Do all 51% agree on how to handle life issues? Probably not… but progress is progress.
I encourage you to take time this week to pray about your role in the fight for life. It won’t be the most comfortable, and it may not make you the coolest kid at school, but it’s a fantastic place to practice your martyrdom. You are a survivor of abortion. If you’re under 36 (which you hopefully are if you’re on this site) it means you’re part of a generation missing 25% of its people. Since its legalization in 1973, 1 out of every 4 pregnancies has ended in voluntary abortion. Think back to our earlier point for a second. If it’s just a procedure… well, it’s a very popular procedure. But if each one of those statistics is a child, then no amount of moderation or dialogue will help, and the only answer is an end to the violence of abortion.
Let’s commit to praying for life this week – and know that I’ll be praying for you.
See you next week, bloggerinos.
