As a child, I watched my mother dedicate a lot of time to CWA (Concerned Women for America), and specifically to the pro-life movement. Her involvement was my first introduction to the word “abortion.” The explanation of an abortion was horrifying! Yet, she explained that there were two positions when it came to the issue: pro-life or pro-choice.

*even at a young age, I knew the word “pro-choice” was intellectually dishonest. It was a diplomatic way of saying, “I think it is permissible to kill an innocent child.” That’s not pro-choice. It’s pro-murder.  But, that’s a side issue.

The point of this article is to highlight a sad reality I recently discovered:

Someone I respected described herself as “pro-life.” However, her social media content seemed to demonstrate a pro-choice position. In a one-on-one conversation, she stated clearly, “Oh, I am pro-life! I am pro-life of the woman.” She went on to explain that her pro-life view required her to consider the “whole life” of the mother. For example, the physical health of the mother must be considered, and mental health of the mother must be considered. Therefore, if the mother and her doctor determined that an abortion was is in the best interest of the mother, then “I would support her right to make that decision.”

It required some mental gymnastics for me to reconcile how she could claim that she was pro-life. Her position was literally a pro-choice position. To paraphrase what she said, “I support her right to choose.” So, this woman had to change the definition of pro-life to accommodate her perspective. I determined that her statement, “I am pro-life,” was at best disingenuous – and yet, it felt like an outright lie. 

So now, I have to ask more questions. I can’t trust that “pro-life” means pro-life. I have to ask, “Are you anti-abortion? Would you support or encourage a woman to get an abortion?”

Let me put my cards on the table. I am a Christian. I believe the Bible – all of it. The Bible is clear that all human life is made in the image of the Almighty God (Genesis 1.26). God is clear with the sixth commandment, “Thou shall not murder” (Exodus 20.13), or as numerous scholars have stated, “Thou shall not take innocent life.” A baby is obviously an innocent life. To kill an innocent baby (born or not-yet born) is to kill someone that bears that image of God. It is heart-breaking to me…

I wish we could just be honest: are you REALLY pro-life?