Are you a sincere person who thinks abortion is
wrong but still believes the woman should have the right to choose?
Are you disturbed by the high number of abortions
(almost one for every two live births) and that it used for birth control?
Are you comfortable with this position? Or, are
you troubled by the conflict it presents? Let's look closer.
CHANGING THE QUESTION...
Supporters of abortion have managed to change
the original question from "Is abortion right or wrong?" to
a new and very different question, "Who decides, the woman or the
government?" They say, this is the "real question" and
must be answered first. They completely ignore and refuse to even discuss
the original question.
Is her "choice" the overriding concern?
This is effectively answered by considering a different issue, one that also raises a significant moral question. Let's consider a hypothetical situation: A group of young men have just started a "Right to Rape" organization. They explain that they believe they have the right to choose to rape women. The real question, they tell us is "Who decides, us or the government? We believe the government should stay out of this very private matter." Furthermore, they want the state to set up tax funded centers where they can rape women in a safe, legal fashion. What should our response be? We would promptly reply --
"You can't do that. Rape is wrong!"
Note carefully the answer. The "real question," the first, most important and overriding question is not "who decides", but a question about the action itself. We must ask ourselves, "Is rape right or wrong?" Only then can we answer the question of who has the right to choose to do it. We could use other human actions that also have obvious moral overtones to illustrate this. Does a burglar have the right to choose to rob your house? A husband to abuse his wife and children? Of course not. The first and most critical question always is to judge the action itself. And so it is with abortion. First, one must ask, "Is abortion right or wrong?" Only then can we consider a second question and ask "Who can choose to do this?"
Once a woman is pregnant, barring a miscarriage or an induced abortion, she'll have a baby. Therefore, her only choice is, "How is the baby going to come out?" Will he or she come out alive and crying or dead, in pieces? For many women this is an agonizing decision.
Choice... Truly, her choice is between
life and death, a live baby or a dead one. But it doesn't end with the abortion
for many women. It can impact the rest of her life. There can be physical complications.
Perhaps, more important for many is the emotional aftermath that can result.
On the other hand, if she toughs it out
and carries her baby to term, there can instead by good memories -- her own
child to love and cherish. Or, if she is in no position to parent her child,
she can place her baby for adoption in a pair of loving arms of a couple unable
to have a child of their own.
A NATION IN CONFLICT ...
There are many people today who believe that abortion
is wrong. They recognize that medical science has long since proven conclusively
that human life begins at fertilization. They accordingly, cannot and
do not deny that abortion is killing. Further, most also believe abortion
is against God's will.
But, many of these sincere people feel
that women's rights are so important that she should be allowed to choose to
end the life of her developing baby. This is an untenable position. A person
can't have it both ways. If abortion is wrong, then both, mother and baby should
be protected, unless it can be shown that one's life (the mother's) might be
lost if the pregnancy were allowed to continue. Only the preservation of one
life is weighty enough to justify taking another.
"
No one has the right
to choose to do what is wrong
"
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
THE SLAVERY ANALOGY ...
In 1857 the U.S. Supreme Court
decided the Dred Scott Decision. By a 7-2 vote it ruled that black people
were not "legal persons, that they were the property of the slave owner.
Abolitionists protested, to be met with this answer. "We understand
you oppose slavery and find it morally offensive. That is your privilege.
You don't have to own a slave if you don't want to. But, don't impose your
morality on the slave owner. He has the constitutionally protected right
to choose to own a slave."
In the famous Lincoln-Douglas
debates, Mr. Douglas defended the right to choose. Abraham Lincoln's answer
comes down to us ringingly clear. His reply was "No one has the right to
choose to do what is wrong."
RIGHTS HAVE LIMITS ...
I have a right to swing my fist, but that right
stops at your nose. We have the right to freedom of speech, but not to shout
"fire" in a theater. We have a right to freedom of religion, but
not if that religion involves human sacrifice.
A woman has a right to her body, but this
new being, growing within her is not part of her body. Rather, this is a totally
different human being, half of whom are even of a different sex.
COMPASSION FOR HER ...
Pro-lifers in their concern for pregnant
women and their needs have established numerous women helping centers (3,500).
There are also 2,900 Right to Life chapters and the volunteers, who staff both,
are overwhelmingly female. In addition, pro-lifers take pregnant women into
their homes, collect maternity and baby clothes and adopt far more frequently
than other citizens, very often babies with handicaps. They offer legal, medical
and social help for women during and after their pregnancies and after their
abortions. The abortion industry only offers a violent "solution"
to her problem -- abortion. They have no other choices available for the pregnant
woman in need of help. The pro-life movement stands with her. The rights of
women and the rights of the unborn should be joined. Loving alternatives like
adoption must be the focus of our debate.. We reach out to every woman faced
with the agony of abortion and say to her, "Your life and the life of your
baby are both important, and we will not desert either one of you."
SHOULDN'T I HAVE A RIGHT
TO DO WHAT I WANT WITH MY OWN BODY?
The unborn child is not an appendage to
your body, but a separate human being. It has it's own brain and heart,
it's a boy or girl and may have a different blood type than the mother's.
SHOULD PEOPLE IMPOSE THEIR OWN RELIGIOUS
MORALITY ON OTHERS?
If any religious philosophy has been
imposed upon a nation, it is secular humanism. The 10 commandments forbid
murder and stealing. So do the laws of every civilized nation. Do those
laws impose religious morality? Hardly! It should be asked what right does
the mother and her abortionist have to impose their morality upon the unborn
child.
ISN'T IT BETTER TO HAVE LEGAL ABORTIONS THAN TO HAVE WOMEN DIE FROM 'BACK ALLEY' ABORTIONS?
A year before abortion was legal, 39 women died that year in the U.S. from illegal abortions.
Now there are more women dying from legal abortions every year in the U.S.
MANY CHILDREN ARE UNWANTED,
ABUSED, AND IN FOSTER HOMES. DOESN'T ABORTION PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO THIS?
All babies are wanted; even the handicapped. There
are millions of couples in the U.S. wanting to adopt and have to wait years
for a child. Regarding abused children, studies show these are wanted children
but parents , because of their past and their sickness - have abused their
children. We need to work on preventing the abuse; not eliminating the victim.
Children are in foster homes because of various reasons their parents do not
want them relinquished for adoption.
ISN'T IT CRUEL TO ALLOW A HANDICAPPED CHILD TO
BE BORN?
Studies have shown there is no difference between
handicapped and a normal person in their degree of life satisfaction, outlook,
and vulnerability to frustration.
MAKING A LOVING DECISION
"My test was positive. I am going to have
a baby. I choose to give this baby life, but then what? I have some important
decisions to make. I had better slow down and start thinking.
FIRST CHOICE: I CAN RAISE
MY BABY AS A SINGLE MOTHER.
How old am I? That is important,
but the number is not. How old am I in maturity? Have I ever accepted any
real responsibility? How well did I handle it? Have I ever put another person
before myself? Can I think in those terms?
What is my financial situation?
A practical consideration, but important. Babies cost money. There is food,
diapers, furniture, schooling, etc. Do I have any skills to hold a job?
Can I work out a way to finish my education first?
Do I see motherhood at this time
in my life as a burden? What about dates, parties, fun? Will I think of
those as something I have reluctantly given up for my baby? Will I resent
my child for that? Do I enjoy children and being with them?
Can I look to the future? Babies
are not really cute toys to play with. They grow up. They have needs. They
demand. They need to be potty trained. They need to learn a lot of things.
They become teenagers. Can I accept this new direction my life will take
and plan for a secure future for myself and my baby?
Can I love? That is a tough one.
What is love? It is something I do for another. More than anything babies
need to know they are loved and wanted. Can I give that?
Who will help me? My parents? The baby's father? Friends? I will need lots
of help. Do I have people I can rely on?
SECOND CHOICE; I CAN LET SOMEONE ADOPT MY BABY.
Who adopts babies? Loving couples
do. Couples who cannot have children of their own. Mothers and fathers.
Are two parents important? Couples have to wait a long, long time to adopt.
Do the years of waiting make their baby that much more precious to them?
How do I know my baby would be happy in an adopted home? There is no guarantee.
But then is there ever a guarantee that anyone will be happy in any situation?
Can I rely on trust? Will the agencies tell me the truth about couples?
They will if they are reputable agencies. They are the only ones to consider.
What will my friends think? There
may be some peer pressure to make other choices. Can I handle that? Do my
friends have to know? Can I go away for a few months and give another reason?
Can I really take up my life where
it left off? Will I change, be more mature because of this experience? Can
I forgive myself for mistakes and accept myself? If I can do that, I can
put this experience behind me and go on. Will I ever forget? Probably not.
I may have times I wonder where my baby is. Even long for the child. Can
I handle those feelings? Can I remember that I chose adoption based on logical
thinking and not feelings?
THIRD CHOICE; I CAN GET MARRIED TO THE BABY'S FATHER.
Is marriage a choice open to me?
Does he want to marry me? I should find out exactly what his thoughts and
feelings are about being a father. If he wants to be my husband I would
need to know why. If he doesn't want to get married now, I am back to two
choices.
Is having a baby a reason to marry?
Yes, it is a reason, but is it a good reason? If it is all we have going
for us it is probably not. Are we good friends? Do we have a relationship
based on trust and caring or is it just a sexual attraction?
Do I want to marry him? Do I love
him with all my heart and really want to be with him and commit my life
to him? Marriage is a serious step.. Am I ready?
Does anyone else want me to marry?
Will my parents expect it? Will they think it's the "right thing to
do"? Am I ready to withstand pressure from others? I should be the
one to decide what's right for my life and for my baby.
I am making a decision that will
affect the rest of my life and my baby's life. It is a big responsibility
so I should not rush it. I may want to discuss these questions with my parents
or a counselor.
If you are thinking about an abortion or have problems after abortion:
Call 1-800-634-2224
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