I recently explored some reasons why the pro-life movement might eventually win (in the sense of making abortion on demand illegal; we know we’ll never have a 100% win).
Jill Stanek had a thorough analysis as to why some pro-choice leaders were conceding that their movement has lost ground. Here are a few of the points they acknowledged:
- decreased public support for willy-nilly abortions
- increased personal responsibility
- “science”
- ultrasound
- advancements in fetal surgery
- increased survival of preemies
- our [pro-lifer’s] improved debate skills
- our increased ability to elect pro-life candidates
- advanced empathy for minority rights, including those of the preborn
- the animal rights movement
- “to end violence at all levels,” which I take to mean in part opposition to the death penalty
- the phrase, “culture of life”
- “hard questions about why women get pregnant when they don’t want to have babies,” in other words, how could any woman let this happen with the widespread availability of contraceptives?
- graphic photos of aborted babies
- their side’s refusal to acknowledge morality in the abortion debate
- “We haven’t convinced people that we are the ones actually doing things to make it possible for women to avoid needing abortions,” in other words, public skepticism that their side may not be the solution but rather the problem
- “The choice movement seems to defend every individual abortion decision,” in other words, their adamant opposition to any common-sense restriction on abortion whatsoever
Note how some of those are on our side and will always be there (all the scientific advancements and ultrasounds are to our benefit).
I agree with Stanek’s assessment of the pro-choicers’ claims to want common ground:
I for one will never try to “build common ground” with the abortion industry. There is no common ground. The culture of death is the sworn enemy of the culture of life. This is a war, a clash of civilizations.
I do stand ready to dialogue with those in the mushy middle who don’t understand the abortion cartel’s agenda. But we will never have a meeting of the minds on abortion.
Why did Kissling and Michelman write their piece? To shake up pro-aborts to undergo “a serious reassessment” of strategy, not to say pro-lifers were right.
I continue to pray that the middle ground will get more educated on the topic and return to the obvious view that abortion is a moral wrong. Hey, even Planned Parenthood used to know that:
Is it [birth control] an abortion?
Definitely not. An abortion kills the life of a baby after it has begun. It is dangerous to your life and health. It may make you sterile so that when you want a child you cannot have it. Birth control merely postpones the meaning of life.
In the mean time, remember that forgiveness and healing is possible for those who have participated in the abortion process.