Today is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the ruling that legalized abortion in the US.
I remember the discussions in religion class about abortion. Discussing whether abortion was moral was NOT the focus; discussing WHEN it was moral was the focus.
I'm reminded of that today. In the years since Roe v. Wade, the anti-abortion people have increasingly framed their argument on the black-and-white foundation: abortion is wrong, that's all there is to it, and therefore it should not be available. Period.
Relatively few things in life are that clear-cut. We can agree that killing is wrong, but how many situations are there in which it is not only proper but even heroic?
Much of the opposition to abortion comes from the right-wing Christian Evangelical base. Because their interpretation of the Bible says abortion is wrong, it is wrong and therefore should not be available. Period.
These are the same people who would be up in arms if our Jewish friends, who believe that eating pork is wrong, demanded pork be removed from store shelves.
I believe that these abortion foes are utterly sincere in their belief; I was one of them for many years and still believe that abortion would likely be the wrong choice if I were in that predicament.
But I'm not. And for me to tell another woman that she MUST bring a pregnancy to term would be as wrong as forcing everybody to become Christian.
There's a hypocrisy in the Evangelical opposition to abortion that the right-wing conveniently overlooks. Many evangelical Christians belive that drinking alcohol or getting a divorce is sinful. Where is the outcry to pass laws making alcohol and divorce unavailable?
There is none. Instead of insisting no one have access to alcohol or divorce, they simply teach their beliefs and urge their followers to uphold them.
I believe the same approach to abortion - teach that it is wrong within your church or home, but allow women to make their own choices - is the better way. In my opinion, it is the more Christian way.
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