The pro-life movement is a controversial one. It has been characterized by those who disagree with it as everything from invincibly ignorant to downright malicious, and this can be discouraging to those who are interested in advocacy but feel the stigma of getting involved. According to a recent Gallup poll, only a third of Americans believe Roe v. Wade should be overturned, which makes those who are pro-life the minority. However, the risks involved are outweighed by the benefits of joining this pro-life generation in the mission to promote a culture of life. Here are the top three. Reason #1: The pro-life movement promotes truth. There is a strong emphasis on finding and promoting truth in the pro-life movement. Whether it is education on developmental biology and abortion procedures, information on the most important local and national activities surrounding the life issues, or training on logical arguments and productive dialogue, pro-life organizations such as Students for Life, Live Action, and even our Right to Life Club (on an admittedly smaller scale) work to promote the truth about these nuanced and impactful subjects. The majority of our club meetings are centered around information, reasoning, and dialogue. Dialogue is an integral aspect of promoting truth. As I explain here, our club focuses on dialogue that is both understanding and truth-advancing; we must always strive to further understand those who disagree and present our own beliefs effectively, analyzing and comparing the different sides of the debate to find the truth. One can read about and listen to people defend their own position every day, but actively engaging in true dialogue is what improves our understanding and discussion skills the most. One advantage of joining the pro-life movement is the fact that most other Americans disagree with us; we therefore have many opportunities to engage in dialogue with those whose views challenge our own— opportunities to strengthen an important skill. As our society becomes more conflicted around political issues, the need for young, truth-seeking people who are well-versed in productive dialogue increases. Developing the skills required for this takes experience, which can be gained by promoting a culture of life— a culture that promotes both the truth about the life issues and productive, informed dialogue so as to promote that truth and ultimately justice. Reason #2: The pro-life movement promotes justice. One phrase often used to promote, among other things, wider access to abortion is “Reproductive Justice,” originally popularized by the organization Sister Song. Unfortunately, this fundamentally misunderstands the situation society now faces in regards to abortion. Children do not deserve a society that tells them that they shouldn’t be alive, that they were a “mistake,” or that their age or the circumstances of their conception determine their worth. We can’t discriminate based on any of these things. If we want a just society, we must stand for everyone, especially the most voiceless who cannot advocate for themselves and whose lives are now threatened— the preborn. In denying them the right to life, we deny them every other right as well. In the face of societal issues, real solutions involve supporting people— not violating rights. Women do not deserve a society that tells them that abortion is a quick “solution” or the next logical step to fixing their problems— whether they believe they aren’t ready to care for their child, don’t have enough resources, or are facing other struggles. Unfortunately, today’s culture often promotes this narrow view, and this does have consequences for those involved. One such example is that of Aimee Murphy, a woman who was threatened with abortion as the sole option when she was only sixteen years old; through her experience she recognized her calling to promote justice for all and is now a pro-life speaker. Another powerful example is Mrs. Debbie Miller, who spoke at our club last year. She is a mother who was also pressured and got an abortion before realizing years later how much it had hurt her psychologically and spiritually; she now runs the impactful organization Healing Hidden Hurts, a ministry dedicated to helping others in the journey of healing from abortion like she did. Her witness, along with those of countless other grieving mothers, shows the powerful effects that abortion can have on the women involved— and too often these stories are overlooked by those who believe abortion is the solution women deserve. Abortion is not justice. It is not the solution. The real solution is to build up a culture of life— a culture that provides women with the support they need to navigate the challenges they face. Mothers need to know that there are pregnancy and parenting resources available to them all across America through organizations like Healing Hidden Hurts, initiatives such as Standing With You, and more. A culture of life is one that provides women with just alternatives to abortion and promotes understanding of what abortion truly does— to children, mothers, and society as a whole. Standing with the pro-life movement promotes justice because it promotes a fuller understanding of the truth about the life issues and provides strong support for the women and families who need it. Reason #3: The pro-life movement promotes a strong community. There are two ways the pro-life movement creates stronger communities: it strengthens groups which stand for life and works to bring together those who disagree on the issues but agree on the importance of pursuing the truth. Life issues inherently carry controversy with them because both sides believe that the opposing views promote the violation of human rights in some way, and both sides have supporters who have had powerful and emotional experiences relating to such issues. The pro-life movement recognizes this and emphasizes respect for everyone involved while working to promote justice. Our goal is to spread the truth about that which violates the right to life and create a culture where people know they are supported— not to create contention. The closest friends are often those who stand up for a cause because they face the controversy together. When people collaborate to promote justice despite the controversy, they are building a strong community that works to create a culture of life— a culture which respects every person regardless of past decisions or beliefs. Those who disagree about the life issues can still respect each other through dialogue where they recognize common ground. In the debate about abortion, for instance, both sides agree that women need support. Both sides agree that the choices made are life-changing. Both sides agree that justice must be promoted. Although the life issues can be divisive because of the associated controversy, they can also unify people through building relationships on dialogue that is understanding. By promoting this understanding dialogue focused on finding the truth, the pro-life movement takes a stand against division in a culture where disagreement about the life issues is so contentious. Our goal is to promote that culture of life— a culture that is ordered towards creating a stronger community. The pro-life movement works to protect those who are overlooked and disregarded even before they are born, welcoming them into a society that supports them. We work to ensure that women and families know they have the economic, social, and emotional support they need. Ultimately, we work to create a strong community that comes together to assist and encourage those in difficult circumstances in choosing life. * Our club was founded to facilitate healthy discussion about the life issues, serve those in need, and support pro-life students. We have covered dialogue extensively, promoted productive conversation throughout our school, and invited knowledgeable and experienced speakers in our attempts to promote truth. We have participated in many service projects to help protect life in our local community. And we are a club where pro-life, pro-choice, and undecided students come together to discuss and serve— a space where we work to build up our community rather than divide it in the face of these complicated issues. Through this, we join the pro-life movement in building up that truth-seeking, justice-promoting, community-strengthening culture of life— a culture that recognizes and respects the value of every human life from conception onwards. If you’re interested in helping to build the culture of life in our community, join us for our callout meeting this Tuesday, August 17th! We hope to see you there! Maria ThomasMaria has worked as co-president of Brebeuf’s Right to Life Club since her freshman year. There, she gives talks and leads discussions about abortion and other prominent life issues, emphasizing the importance of reasoning and authentic dialogue as a means to finding the truth.
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