By Curt Williams
Has there ever been a more divisive or hotly debated subject in our national discourse than abortion? You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who is ambivalent regarding abortion. Since 1973 and the landmark Roe v Wade decision by the Supreme Court, the issue of abortion has torn apart families, marriages, communities and hearts.
As most have, there is nothing easier than to take a strong side in this debate. It is clear that those on each side are very passionate and will defend their position with vigor. Some on either side have even stooped to violence. Those who believe that it is a woman’s right to choose an abortion believe this with full confidence and conviction, while those who believe that abortion is murder bring the same confidence and conviction, if not more.
But is there room for nuance in this debate? Is there room for cooler heads to have a conversation that, though it may not bring consensus or agreement, may bring understanding and compassion?
I believe the answer is yes.
As a bit of a disclaimer, I will come clean and state that I am unashamedly pro-life. That said, I am also consistently pro-life, which means that I believe that all life should be respected, honored and preserved. So, in being consistently pro-life, I am fully against capital punishment. I find it both curious and baffling that being pro-life regarding abortion often puts me at odds with my liberal friends and being pro-life when it comes to capital punishment puts me at odds with my conservative friends. It seems that being consistent is not something that is a popular notion.
As for the abortion debate, the issue is much more complicated than what is usually communicated in the incendiary sound bites that fit so conveniently into our ADD news cycle. Those who so adamantly oppose abortion have also sometimes been those who oppose birth control, which is baffling. The vast majority of abortions would be unnecessary if unprotected sexual intercourse was practiced only by those who want a baby, which seems simple. Then, women who find themselves with an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy should also find the resources to have their baby and find qualified and prepared couples ready to adopt them. Men who contribute their sperm to an unwanted pregnancy, where a woman chooses to keep the child, should be on the hook for child support through the age of 18. Now that right there would sell a lot of condoms.
But are we seriously talking about any of these things? No. We are just hurling rocks.
Then we have the thorny issues of pregnancies that result from incest or rape. Though this accounts for a very low percentage of abortions, we cannot deny that these horrible conditions exist. The truth is, if these incidents are reported and medical interventions are made, there is a very low chance of pregnancy. But what if a child is conceived under these circumstances?
One side states that it is not the child’s fault and the child should be allowed to live. I get that. The other side says that it is cruel to ask a woman to carry the child of the man who raped them. I get that too.
To my Christian brothers and sisters, I would say that we need to give this rare situation the space it deserves.
I am full of compassion towards the women who have endured the act of an abortion. Many bear the emotional scars of the decision. Many men also carry the guilt of having urged such a decision or having paid for it to avoid the inconvenience of an unwanted child.
We have also been reticent to look at the financial loss of millions of Americans. Our social security system is weighed down under the weight of the retirement of the Boomers, and we have eliminated over 20 million potential taxpayers. Furthermore, environmentalists would say that we already have too many people inhabiting the planet. Even this side of the debate can quickly become a hot and divisive topic.
Some questions for those who advocate for a woman’s right to choose an abortion:
- Do you affirm that the vast majority of abortions would be unnecessary if responsible birth control was utilized?
- Do you affirm that men should be held just as responsible as women for utilizing birth control measures if a pregnancy is unwanted?
- Do you recognize that the life within the woman’s body is viable in the minutes before an abortion?
Questions for those who oppose abortion:
- Does your heart identify and hold compassion for a woman facing the complications and challenges of an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy?
- If a woman chooses to forego an abortion, are you willing to open your life or home to a child that is placed for fostering or adoption?
- Do you recognize the failures of the pro-life side as they have fought abortion yet often failed to offer solid alternatives?
These are just a few of the discussion questions that could lead to healthy dialogue if ever we would soften our hearts, learn to listen and accept the fact that there is enough room for understanding.
After all, what we need is just a bit of respect and nuance to get the discussion started.
