Life and Honesty

For years I now, I have heard those who support what is commonly known as a “woman’s right to choose,” deride those of us who identify as pro-life for being too narrow minded in our concerns. The point has often been asserted that if we really cared about life, not just the unborn, we would seek to provide care, support, and assistance to both mothers and babies both before and after birth. And you know what, on this point, they are right. Being pro-life does indeed mean providing loving care, support, and real help for women who make the often very hard choice to give birth when faced with a crisis pregnancy. Being there every step of the way is an essential part of being authentically pro-life, as is being open to both adoption and foster care.

Which is why I am so glad that organizations such as Trotter House in Austin, Texas and Next Step Pregnancy Services in Lynwood, Washington exist. In addition to providing free pregnancy testing and ultrasounds both of these places provide material assistance in the form of clothing, formula, and other necessary supplies. Support is also provided through counseling, adoption referrals, and ongoing care. These are exactly the sort of services that those in the pro-choice community have clamored for from those of us who claim to be pro-life.

This is why it is so deeply disturbing that the other thing these two organizations have in common is that they were two of over twenty pro-life organizations that were violently attacked in the last couple of weeks. These attacks, which were done in retaliation to the Supreme Court’s recent talk about the possibility of overturning Roe v Wade give lie to the rhetoric which claims that pro-choice means being pro- woman and simply wanting women to receive the care they need. If that were the case, why attack the very places providing that care?!

 The decision which the courts are considering, to be clear, wouldn’t even outlaw abortion, simply make it the right of the citizens of each state to vote on the issue. Sounds pretty pro-choice to me! And yet, such considerations have groups like Jane’s Revenge vowing to intensify their attacks on any churches, life care centers, or other group they consider to be “anti-choice.” The boldly proclaim “Through attacking, we find joy, courage, and strip the veneer of impenetrability held by these violent institutions,” and I am left wondering who can claim in one breath to find joy in attacking and in the next decry the existence of “violent institutions.” Again, the institutions in question practice the ultra-violent acts of providing both material and emotional support to those who find themselves dealing with an unplanned pregnancy.  (for more about Jane’s revenge see this article: https://catholicvote.org/radical-group-janes-revenge-vows-to-escalate-acts-of-terror-against-pro-life-groups/ )

I am not writing this to debate the abortion issue. I feel strongly about that, and as I have often said before, as the result of an unplanned pregnancy myself I am deeply grateful that my birth mom chose life and that my parents chose adoption. What I am concerned with here is intellectual honesty. Take a stance, I may not agree with or understand your stance but just be honest. I am sick of misleading, deceitful rhetoric, and senseless violence. Do better.

And pro-life friends please join me in praying. Things are getting wild and worse is sure to come. Lord, have mercy. Come Holy Spirit!