Quick Answers To Pro-Choice Challenges

With the reversal of Roe V. Wade becoming a real possibility, the question of abortion will come closer to home as it becomes a state issue to be voted on. People must be well versed in pro-life arguments and able to bring them persuasively. Below are key thoughts to help you toward this.

The foundational point: Human life and personhood are inseparable and not diminished by size, level of development, environment/location or dependency (S.L.E.D.). Human life is distinct from all creation because it is made in the image of God, and consequently has inherit dignity which is worthy of protection.

Challenge #1 – Abortion is ok because the embryo/fetus does not have personhood

Science now shows that the humanity of an embryo is no longer in question. There is unique human DNA with a distinct genetic code containing all the physical traits that only need time to develop. But should this human life be considered a person? If personhood is detached from humanity in any way, then the pressing question is what would it be attached to and why? Is personhood attached to mental capacity, ability to look forward and make plans, quality of life, or being a productive member of society? Anything like that would render certain people currently living in society today as non-persons and usher in unspeakable evil against them. Personhood is inseparably attached to human life which begins at conception. Dignity and protection must begin at conception.

Challenge #2- Abortion must be available to protect the life of the mother

Because the unborn child is a person made in the image of God, we cannot think of protecting only the mother but also the baby. Both must be valued and protected. Yet, there are times when physical danger is unavoidable and death is inevitable. Even in these cases, we must not intentionally kill. The baby may need to be removed, and this may result in the death of the baby, but only after heroic steps are taken to save the child. Death is not always avoidable, but intentional killing of innocent life is never acceptable.

Challenge #3- A woman has the right to make decisions about her own body.

This is true as far as it stands. But the woman’s body is not the only body involved. There are two bodies. The baby is not the woman’s body. The woman does not have the right to kill another innocent person, no matter how that person may burden her. A woman does have the option to give a baby away in adoption, but killing an innocent person is not an option.

Challenge #4- A woman must not be forced to be pregnant against her will.

This argument only stands in cases of rape which will be addressed below. Outside of rape cases, a woman has made the weighty and highly consequential decision to engage in sex. Since abstinence is the only 100% effective contraceptive, to engage in sex, even protected sex, is an acceptance of the potential consequences of sex. Killing an innocent person in the womb is not an allowable option for the consequences of a willing choice. There is no lifestyle or desire for freedom or convenience that can justify the killing of innocent human life. This demonstrates the wisdom and blessing of God’s design for sex within the marriage of a husband and wife, which is best suited to care for a child and create general human flourishing.

Challenge #5 – A woman must not be forced to carry a pregnancy due to rape.

The trauma and tragedy of rape cases is fully accepted. The kinds of pain and upheaval from this are nearly unlimited. This unspeakably evil event is a part of living in a broken world full of broken and evil people. Yet, the unborn child is a victim as well as the mother. When criminal activities happen, the only unthinkable action is to punish the victim. Killing the innocent unborn person is only adding another tragedy to an already tragic event.

Challenge #6 - Abortion must be available because adoption is traumatic.

Adoption is criticized because of the following realities: pregnancy is dangerous and potentially life-threatening, it can alter a woman’s body irreparably, and the emotional trauma of surrendering over a delivered child can remain for a lifetime. All of this is fully granted. While the emotional and physical toll is high, killing innocent life cannot be an option for alleviating emotional hardship or physical threats. Killing people is not an option for making things easier.

Challenge #7- If abortions are not available then women will die in back-alley abortions.

In a just society, killing people is always a back-alley, black market kind of venture. The fact that some women will pursue the killing of their unborn children must not compel a society to make a dangerous black-market endeavor into a federally-funded, tax-payer under-written activity. Additionally, we must not make the dangerous pursuit of unsafe abortions into an acceptable option under the name of safety. Instead, we uphold the dignity of life by grounding its value in the image of God, supporting needy mothers, and making adoptions and foster services the best in the world. All the while we grieve the women who will not abide the option of life but pursue unsafe abortions.

Challenge #8- Abolishing abortion will cause the rise of poverty, crime, and unwanted children put in a broken foster system

The answer to problems must never be the killing of innocent people. If crime is a concern, remember that killing innocent life is a crime. If poverty is a concern, remember that moral poverty brings a worse situation than economic poverty. If unwanted children are a concern, remember that there are always people who want babies, even deformed and sick babies. When a society begins to solve problems by immoral methods, this only creates more and deeper problems. A society that abandons a moral grounding, most highly evidenced by the devaluing of human life, will be a society that becomes brutal and senseless in its pursuit for whatever desire reigns at the moment. We must stem the tide of the culture of death by holding out the value of human life from conception to natural death.