499 Clothman On Abortion Part 1
“So, what do you think about abortions?”
Becky, a varsity cheerleader, asked me this in 1973. I had difficulty answering for two reasons. First, I had a Texas-sized crush on Becky and was desperate to say what she wanted to hear. And second, I had no idea what abortions were. If pressed I would have guessed a race of people who lived in the Australian outback.
“Ah, I don’t know yet,” I said with great conviction.
“You don’t know!” Becky, a faithful Catholic, was outraged. “I think their horrible! And I can’t believe you don’t have an opinion.”
I was a sophomore in high school when the fervor over Roe-v-Wade peaked, but I was clueless. I felt as dumb as a stick. About the only thing that has changed since then is that I now know what abortions are. Sadly, the fervor certainly hasn’t faded.
I agree with those who are advocating that we get beyond the jaded rhetoric and political hogwash. If we all want to see the number of abortions reduced, then let’s get to work. While we’ve been picketing, lobbying and name-calling abortions have continued basically unabated.
To the pro-choice movement I suggest acknowledgement that the fetus is indeed a living human. Had the prenatal medicines of today been practiced in 1973 Roe-v-Wade would never had passed. The vivid images we now have of tiny babies living in the womb have forever altered the phrase “women have the right to make an informed decision about their bodies.”
I affirm that women have the right to make choices; in fact, part of the problem is that for much of history society and churches didn’t allowed women to make informed choices. However, we now know that the choice of abortion involves two intertwined lives, not one. Honestly admitting this would certainly reduce abortions.
To the pro-life movement I suggest giving up the fight to make abortion illegal. Thinking that over turning Roe-v-Wade will solve the problem is a pipedream. We have laws prohibiting the use of drugs and look where they’ve gotten us. Remember the great failure of "great experiment" with the prohibition of alcohol? The same thing will happen with abortion; you may win the battle but you will loose the war.
Take the massive effort you devote to overturning Roe-v-Wade and focus it on the crisis pregnancy centers, adoption agencies and programs which support folks in crisis because of their pregnancy. Not only will you make a meaningful difference in real people’s lives but you will be seen as people driven by compassion, not politics. Your love will reduce abortions, not your laws.
The giant political machines on each side of the abortion issue will vigorously oppose my suggestions. Their existence depends on discord, anger and malice. I say forget them. Let’s follow a higher authority which says, “…dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be event-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you” (Colossians 3:12-13).
And Becky, if you still want to know what I think of abortions, there’s your answer 34 years later.
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