Ever since the law against abortion was thrown out (and even before), many pro-life groups have been fighting to raise awareness about the evils of abortion and the need to protect life in the womb. In the 43 years since the abortion law was thrown out the pro-life movement has been working constantly, but progress has been slow as many people do not want to talk about the issue due to its controversial nature. The pro-life movement has done a lot of good standing up for life and providing women with the facts about abortion. Some pro-life groups are specifically aimed at providing women in crisis pregnancies with the support they need to care for the baby, and provide the mother with alternatives to abortion, such as adoption.
Despite the best efforts of many pro-life people for more then 40 years, there is still no law against abortion and any politician who talks about the issue is marginalized. Why is this? This issue should be at the forefront of political debate because it is concerned with the value and meaning of life. Without human life there can be no country, no economy, no communities, etc. Everything is based on people and the fact is we are killing millions of people every year and this will have consequences for the future.
One reason why the abortion debate has not progressed farther is that pro-lifers and pro-choicers are talking in different languages. Before any debate or discussion happens both sides need to stop attacking each other and come up with things that they both agree on. Certain statements can be agreed upon by both sides and can be used to further the debate. Some of these statements are; "violence, intimidation and generally unlawful behaviour is unacceptable," or "rights cannot be denied," or "'pure democracy' is not acceptable," or "our side must be willing to submit itself to the truth."
Once both sides have found a common starting point that they agree on the next step is to define the terms that you are using. Words like religion, human person, right, and abortion are powerful words and can be used in so many different ways that the meaning can be unsure. Both sides need to ask themselves, what is a person? what is a right? who has rights? which rights do they have? when do these rights apply? what is religion? how does religion affect the abortion debate? is an abortion simply a medical procedure or is there more to it then that? There are so many questions that need answering in order to find out the truth about abortion, but these questions cannot be answered unless both sides share a common language and have a common understanding of terms.
Once all the background work is complete, you have statements and definitions that both sides agree on, then the debate can begin. Pro-lifers have nothing to fear or lose in this debate because they are upholding the truth, so in any debate looking for the truth of what abortion is and whether it should be permitted they cannot lose. If however the debate does not progress very far, as long as pro-choicers agree that unlawful behaviour is not acceptable you can argue that abortion is wrong.
The best argument I ever heard against abortion comes from Dr. Peter Kreeft. Kreeft says that with abortion there is four options; 1) the fetus is human and we know that it is human, 2) the fetus is human and we do not know that it is human, 3) the fetus is not human and we do not know that it is not human, and 4) the fetus is not human and we know that it is not human. If option 1 is true, the fetus is human and we know that, then to kill the fetus is murder. If option 2 is true, the fetus is human but we are not sure, then to kill the fetus is manslaughter as it is similar to a hunter who is out in the forest and sees bushes moving so he shoots before checking what moved the bushes, and it turns out he has shot his fellow hunter. If option 3 is true, the fetus is not human and we are not sure, then to kill it is criminal negligence because you are killing something when you are not sure what it is and it is possible that it is human. This would be similar to seeing a dark object in the middle of the road while driving, and you're not sure what it is and whether it is human, but you decide to hit it anyway, instead of avoiding it. If option 4 is true then abortion is okay because the fetus is not human and we are sure that it is not. So, if someone wants to argue that abortion should be legal they must prove, without a shadow of doubt, that the fetus is human. This is impossible because a nothing cannot be what it is not, a human cannot be a non-human, and since a fetus is human it is impossible to prove that it is not human.
If the philosophical argument does not work then the best option remaining is to videotape live abortions so that people can see what actually happens. Many medical procedures can be watched live on television and the internet, but an abortion has never been broadcast. Abortions are done in secret, so we must strive to bring light into the darkness and reveal the secrets surrounding abortion for all to see. If there is nothing wrong with abortions then there should not be any problem broadcasting an abortion. Broadcasting a live abortion may be the only way to convince people of the evils of abortion.
Before I go I should say something about the Catholic approach to abortion. Pope John Paul II said that abortion is intrinsically evil and can never be permitted. This is kind of a summary statement of the Church's views on the subject. However, the Church teaching on abortion also says that since we are not sure when human life begins, we must protect life from conception to natural death because the fetus, at all stages has the potential to be human. This line of reasoning is simply beautiful because it upholds the dignity of human life and simplifies a lot of questions. It is amazing that the Church teaches that we must protect even the potential for human life, because it is so valuable. (Note: I have simplified the Church's stance considerably, so for more in depth discussion on this issue please consult the Catechism of the Catholic Church)
In closing I should say that I support and encourage everyone who is active in the pro-life movement. I am in no way contradicting or diminishing your work, I am simply trying to find a new approach to the abortion debate. Standing up for life in this culture of death is challenging and can be frustrating, and I encourage you to keep fighting the good fight and know that you have the truth on your side, so "be not afraid." May God bless you all!
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