Thinking about abortion

Dr. Al Mohler has two articles on the subject of abortion that I would encourage you to read. Especially in light of the recent Supreme Court decision upholding the ban on “partial birth” abortion. Slowly, it appears the thinking of some people is changing. At least, I hope so.

“The Revenge of Moral Consciousness”

“The Supreme Court Rules Again on Abortion”

A few years ago, a student asked me what I thought of abortion. This is the way I answered her question:

My mother was 14 years old when she became pregnant with me—15 when I was delivered by Caesarian section. If abortion were legal when I was born, someone probably would have argued that I should be aborted. Certainly, pregnancy was a disruption to my mother’s life. Tell me, should I have been aborted?

My great-great-great-grandmother, Mollie, was a “Mulatto”—the daughter of a Black slave named Sarah, and Sarah’s White slave master, Mr. Rice. I seriously doubt Sarah became pregnant as a result of a mutual relationship between “consenting adults”. We’re talking about the state of Alabama—“The Heart of the Confederacy”—in the year 1852. More than likely my great-great-great-great-grandmother, Sarah, was raped by Mr. Rice. Should Sarah’s daughter, Mollie—my great-great-great-grandmother—have been aborted? If Mollie had been aborted, I would not exist, either.

I have some cousins, all of whom (I think) are college-educated. They’re fine, respectable people. Some of them are educators. This branch of the Duncan family came about through incest—sexual relations between unmarried first-cousins, way back in 1889. From this union, twin girls were born. Should these twins have been aborted? If there had been an abortion, this particular branch of the family—which has since produced teachers, artists and college professors—would not exist.

For at least three reasons (and, of course, there are more), I am opposed to abortion in all circumstances.

As you can probably guess, that student didn’t have anything else to say.