What Pro-Lifers Don’t Get About Abortion

     Many pro-choice people like to point out what they think us pro-lifers don’t understand about abortion. The usual talking points are that it is all about women’s rights. “There may have been rape or incest involved.” “You don’t know what they’re going through.” “Women will do it unsafely if we criminalize it”, etc.

     As a pro-lifer, I understand all of that. Here’s what I actually don’t get - why is the ending of an innocent human life the only solution?

     We all acknowledge that rape, incest, moletstation, and the like are awful. There is no excuse for such action. The men who commit such crimes deserve to be tried for their atrocities to the highest extent of the law.

     I also realize that many of these men are never caught and that many women are afraid to report sexual assault. Even worse, most of those men find themselves released back into society to strike again. It is a terrible thing when justice is not served.

     But why, with all of our scientific advancement, have we not come up with better solutions than killing the baby? How can we claim to be a sophisticated society when we punish one of the victims of a heinous crime and let the criminal walk?

     Make no mistake, while I am pro-life, I am equally pro-punishment. Criminals need to be afraid to commit crimes again. Most sexual offenders are repeat offenders. Let’s not give them another chance to hurt someone else.

         With that said, I realize it still leaves the question - ok, so what about the poor woman who was mistreated and now has an unwanted pregnancy? Does she just have to suck it up and deal with an unwanted pregnancy and the aftermath by herself? Hopefully, no.

     I am grateful to be able to contribute to a ministry that provides care for women with unwanted pregnancies at no cost to them. It is connected to a broader ministry that helps such women keep their babies, find work, and learn the skills to provide for their own family if they so choose. They are also connected to a children’s home.

     These are the kind of solutions we ought to be seeking. Abortion should never be an option. It is the destruction of an innocent human life. No matter the circumstances, situations, or motivations surrounding abortion, it is an inexcusable procedure that needs to be done away with in our society.

     But, hey, women will do it anyway. So? That is literally the worst reasoning I have ever heard. People do illicit drugs despite their illegality. Should we legalize methamphetamine so junkies can use it safely? No. It is illegal because it is unsafe. Keep it that way. 

     The common catchphrase for abortion is “safe, legal, and rare”, yet it has been exposed many times as being none of those things. 

     One of the most common misconceptions about abortion is that it is safe for the mother. Yet, if you do your research, you find that many women experience lasting physical, emotional, and mental complications because of abortion procedures. Years of trauma and therapy are not the result of a safe procedure.

     As far as the legality of abortion is concerned, it is not a simple matter of legislation. It is an extremely nuanced law that must be regulated for the health and safety of the mother. I have seen far too many abortion doctors exposed and even arrested for nefarious dealings. It is no secret that this is, for some (not all) about making money.

     And sadly, abortion is anything but rare these days. It is admittedly difficult to find reliable numbers on abortion in America, but Planned Parenthood alone averages 300,000+ abortions in a year. Just for clarity’s sake, that it more than have died so far in America due to COVID19. 

     Let me say that I have empathy for women with unwanted pregnancies. I do not think that most of these women having abortion procedures are evil or heartless. I believe most have just found themselves in difficult situations and need a way out. While they are responsible for their individual choice, I realize that what they need is compassion and care, not hate and ostracism.

      My point is not that nothing should be done about these women, but that something better should be done for their babies as well. Hundreds of thousands of children a year who never get a chance at life is not okay. Some say we are saving them from the evils of this world or from poverty, but that is a cop out. 

      Every human being, whether in the womb or out, has a right to life. It ought to be the decisions that person makes that decide whether they live or die, no one else’s. That is why we have laws against negligence, abuse, and murder. Legalizing abortion bent those laws and created a loophole. We need to find a better way instead of normalizing an wrong way.

      There are many more arguments to be made on both sides, and I am sure I will hear many of them, but does anyone seriously think that abortion is a viable solution? I know we can do better. But we have to try. The soul of this nation can not afford to turn a blind eye to the atrocities of abortion under the guise of women’s health.

     It is not healthy. It is not ethical. It is not okay.