The Line We Can Live With? Just a Little Abortion, Please

By Jennifer Hartline
1/18/2013
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

The line is very simple, very absolute: the child in the womb is a human person from the moment of conception and has the right to live.

For too many people, outlawing abortion from conception onward is just too demanding a position to take. They don't really like abortion, but they want more flexibility than "no abortion, ever." So they find a more comfortable line to draw. Some destruction of human life has to be allowed, just not too much. That's where some political conservatives want to take the pro-life effort, and we have to refuse to go there.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) - If the Chicks on the Right had their way, people like me would leave the conservative tent because any position on abortion that doesn't allow some room for some abortions under some circumstances is too extreme, too unrealistic, too whatever.

They contend that Conservatism needs a makeover and I need to step aside and let the modern, moderate conservatives take over the message and the mechanics.

They want to draw a more reasonable line. And sad to say, judging from the truckload of affirmative comments to their recent post, they're not alone. My husband calls it politics for politics' sake.

The Chicks will be happy to hear that I'll be glad to shed the conservative label. It's pretty meaningless now. I suppose it makes some distinction between me and a hard-left abortion-on-demand, nanny-government liberal, but that's about all it does. It doesn't encompass what I really believe, or what is really right. (I'm simply Catholic; a la Christ and His Church, not a la Pelosi and Biden.)

One of the Chicks, Mockarena, says that while she doesn't dispute the science of when life begins, she has drawn her abortion line at a beating heart, or about 21 days past conception. From that point on, she says abortion is wrong. Before then, it's not a problem and should be allowed, and in fact, encouraged through the use of Plan B/Morning After pills and widespread contraception. This would be a victory for conservatives, she claims, and would achieve the goal of reducing abortions in America. This is realistic, and that's where we should be putting our efforts, says she. Those who disagree with her are unreasonable, extreme, and hurting the conservative cause.

To Mockarena, I have to ask one question: What makes your line any less arbitrary than the line the pro-abortionists have drawn? Their line is the moment after delivery when the cord is cut. Why is your line any better?

It's really all about finding the line that makes us most comfortable. The line we feel lets us have the best of both sides of the thing we're debating. (As if abortion has a good side...) The line where a desirable-enough outcome is achieved, even if it isn't the truly moral or just outcome.

How much killing can we get away with without getting bloody? How much killing can we stomach and still sleep at night? How much power can we assert over another one who is powerless without seeming like a big bully, or tyrant, or heartless abuser ourselves?

How can we cheat a little and still be reputable? How can we have what we want without making the difficult sacrifice? How far can we push that line before we actually have to do the right thing?

Abortion is wrong. Period. Full stop.

Many conservatives will say they agree with me. But like Mockarena, then they'll want to continue... "but we have to face reality. Abortion is legal, after all, and we're not going to turn back the clock. So shouldn't we concentrate our efforts on making abortion as rare and undesirable as possible? Shouldn't we focus on reducing the number of abortions by championing contraception, including the Morning After pill? After all, women who've been raped or had unprotected sex should get emergency contraception immediately. Then they won't need a real abortion later."

(Allow me to introduce you to Kathleen Sebelius, Cecile Richards, and Sandra Fluke. I think you'll all get along swimmingly.)

If more contraception was the key to fewer abortions, then more bars ought to be the solution to drunk-driving.

I'm not sure conservatives who make this argument are interested in justice or in what's genuinely right or even factual. (First they need to stop getting their information from the Guttmacher Institute.) Perhaps they're more interested in comfort, compromise, and popularity. They're interested in politics.

But abortion is not a political issue. It's the ultimate human rights issue; the true test of society's morality and justice. People who can utter the word "need" in relation to abortion have not yet grasped what it's all about. When is there ever a need to kill a child??

It's about only one thing: the humanity of the child in the womb. It's about recognizing that humanity even when it's inconvenient to us and cramps our style; even when it alters our plans.

But admittedly, that's a demanding position to take. That's an all-or-nothing hill to die on, ...

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1 - 7 of 7 Comments

DLL
3 months ago
All my life I have seen no sense to war and have wished an end to all war. So it is the same with abortion. Unfortunately when death becomes an accepted standard of behaviour such as war has and now abortion,it seems the human condition becomes accustomed to such options and than has to nerve to call them human rights. Once the idea is accepted it cannot be easily reversed because it becomes a condition of the human heart,a diseased one at that. Slavery did end as well as human and animal sacrifices to the gods. There is hope. As long as we pray and as long as prayer is exercised and never thought to be out dated there is hope. In Christ we can do all things.
Bill Sr.
3 months ago
To all,
The words of Jennifer here are very strong and firm, almost harsh or even unacceptable to our ears or conscience. Revolting one may say.
But I dare to compare them to the words which those who first heard Jesus Christ when he said to them "You must eat my flesh and drink my blood.." if you are to have the life I offer you. That was where many of his followers drew a line which would separate them from their very salvation. Jennifer's line separates us from damnation.
Praise the God of Creation and woe to those who would stand in His way.
Kathleenc
3 months ago
Excellent article! We also need to get the word out about something very important: Many people and groups define "conception" inaccurately. They define "conception" as when the person has attached himself or herself to their mothers uterine wall. This very deceptive. This is how some justify the birth control pill, the "morning after" pill, etc. We all need to get on the same page about the truth of the meaning of "conception" which is at the very moment the sperm and egg unite. The moment the zygote is created. This is much sooner than when the zygote person becomes attached to the womb. Some say that just because he or she is still traveling, they are not yet a person. This is 100% wrong. When some people are saying they want to end abortion from the moment of conception, we need to know if they mean the actual moment of conception, or if they mean their inaccurate opinion of conception. It is completely different.
Amber
3 months ago
I just feel it has to stop, too. All of it, and it is violence. There is an ethic of violence there when you take away life. Preventing life is not right either, according to God. I pray that this all ends someday soon. Give our babies the future they deserve, for they are all souls.
Irma
3 months ago
Absolutely true and very well said!
Stacy Trasancos
3 months ago
I hope they respond. This is exactly what so many of us watching their rants have wanted to say. THANK YOU!
Jim
4 months ago
While I agree whole heartedly with you Jennifer, Mockerena has a point. The reality is that until hearts are changed laws won't be. Laws don't even stop your everyday murders let alone abortions. I think what we need to do is get funding out of Planned Parenthood and its round about ways of receiving funds. Every citizen should have the option on their tax forms to choose either the pro-life way (send funds to crisis pregnancy centers) or the heinous option. Sadly the positions of Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock cost the Republicans control of the Senate. Much like Christine O'Donnell and Sharon Engle last time around. In a culture that thinks fun is the main function of sex you have to be a bit more clever. The Democrats have learned how to manipulate the population and conservatives have to as well unless we want to see more of money go to barbaric practices like abortion.

Democrats want to expand access to abortion. Republicans want to cut funding but leave the law as it is. I'll settle for the lesser of the two evils politically and do my best to change one heart at a time against abortion.

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