In this research paper I will be discussing life as opposed to abortion. Whereas, abortion is the murder of defenseless unborn children and all life begins at conception.

Through media, newspapers, and court decisions over the past few decades, abortion has now been fully brought before the public’s eye and cannot simply be overlooked. There have been heated debates between those for abortion and those against it. As people developed their different stands on this issue, two major groups emerged: Pro-life, and Pro-choice.

The Pro-life movement believes that the unborn are human beings and have the right to life. The Pro-life movement as a whole may represent other issues such as animal rights, etc. However we will specifically talk about the movement in the sense that all abortion is murder.

Some organizations and movements against abortion include the “March for Life,” “Americans United for Life (Chicago),” and “Pharmacists for Life International.” ¹The Pharmacists for Life International refuse to fill prescriptions they think cause abortion. People often say that these pharmacists are acting on their religious beliefs. This may be true to some extent, but it is also the moral thing to do. These pharmacists believe they are to help others by making sure the patients use their medication properly ²In no way is an abortion pill helpful.

Peter Kreeft has this to say in his book Three approaches to Abortion, “The womb, by nature the safest place in the world, has become the most dangerous and lethal place in the world. One out of every three persons who enter it leave it dead within nine months.” ³ This is very hard to hear, but true. In 2003, 42 million abortions occurred worldwide. ⁴Over the years, abortion has become increasingly more convenient through local abortion providers. However 98% of counties in Mississippi, Kentucky, and the Dakotas have no abortion providers, and 97% of counties in Missouri and Nebraska have none. ⁵

There is yet another side to the abortion debate, the Pro-Choice movement. This is a movement that supports abortion and the rights of the mother, regardless of what happens to the “fetus”. They believe that a “fetus” is just another part of the mother’s body. Since pregnant women are protected under the Constitution, they still have control and a “choice” over their own bodies. ⁶

One question that Pro-choice groups have failed to reach a definite agreement on and remains unanswered is this, When does a “fetus” reach “personhood”? Does a fetus become a person sometime before they are born and when they are still in the womb? Perhaps it happens at birth? Jan LaRue in the book Abortion has a rightful answer to this question, “There is no period of non-life. Biological growth-metabolism, reproduction, and reaction to stimuli-proves the unborn are alive at conception. They are human life because each being reproduces after its own kind. It is nonsensical to conclude that two human beings produce a being that later becomes a human being.” ⁷

Some Pro-choice groups include: National Organization for Women (NOW), NARAL Pro-Choice America, and National Advocates for Pregnant Women. ⁸

Motherhood is one of the most meaningful, and blessed things, yet it requires a lot of hard work. A lot goes into taking care of a child; it’s a commitment. ⁹ It has been rightfully said that “she who rocks the cradle, rules the world.” So then why would someone want to forfeit this blessing by having an abortion? It all boils down to women’s rights and taking responsibility for one’s actions.

What about the fathers? What are their rights? Shouldn’t they have a part in the abortion decision? After all, it is just as much their child as it is the mother’s. If the father wants to keep the child and take responsibility for his actions or whether he wants to put the child up for adoption, he should still have a choice. Thus, this often begs another question, Should fathers have the right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy? Most of the time this is desired in order to avoid paying child support. In most states, however, fathers,-whether married or not-must pay child support. ¹⁰

We have discussed the rights of the parents, but now we approach the key human being involved. Whose rights have been forgotten, disregarded, and believed by some to be virtually nonexistent – the rights of the unborn. As mentioned earlier, women are protected under the Constitution. In fact all life is preserved under it. Even property is safeguarded. Why then are the rights of the unborn alienated? Are they not much more valuable than our belongings?

According to the World Book Encyclopedia, the fertilized egg contains the complete “blueprint” for the development and growth of the child. The baby’s eye and hair color, and other physical and mental properties are already determined. <¹¹ We are preplanned by God. Just eight weeks after conception, the unborn baby’s heart is fully developed. The heart begins to beat even earlier than that at four weeks after conception. ¹² At this time, basic organs and features are formed. After this, the unborn baby begins to move. ¹³ It is amazing how much this little child, only weeks after being formed, resembles a newborn.

As we can see, signs of life are evident in the first trimester (months 1-3). Just as babies are fully dependent on the mother in the womb, they are also fully dependent on others after birth. ¹⁴ Newborns must be held, fed, and have their diapers changed; they can do nothing to help themselves. So, if a “fetus” is not a human being because it cannot survive without the mother, then a newborn must not be a human being either. No, they are both humans and have “unalienable rights.”

Doctors often warn pregnant women not to smoke, drink alcohol, or take certain medications. They are to do nothing that could harm the child. Although some of these things have no major impact on the mother, the effect on the child can be devastating. In fact, it can cause major birth defects or even be fatal for the unborn baby. Therefore, the child is part of the mother, yet at the same time, is an individual human being. ¹⁵

When a woman learns of her pregnancy, she is often faced with three options: abortion, adoption, or acceptance. Although she is advised by doctors, friends, and family on which path to take, in the end, it is ultimately her decision. In some countries there have been ordinances on how many children a women may have. This is done in order to control the population. Some women are pregnant from rape or incest. In any case, abortion is still wrong.

Many times, abortion has to do with whether the family believes they are financial able to have another child, or maybe they are not ready for children. This is called “planned parenthood.” Doctors who perform abortion believe they are ending life for good reasons. They think they are saving the women and helping the other children in the family. These doctors feel they are helping financially-burdened families who don’t have time for a newborn. They believe they’re doing society a favor. For those with birth defects, well, they wouldn’t have a good life anyway, they claim. ¹⁶ Studies have shown that 80 to 90% of unborn children diagnosed with Downs syndrome are terminated. ¹⁷ How sad! During Hitler’s communist rule, people he saw as “imperfect” were sentenced to death. In the same way, many unborn babies with birth defects are euthanized, discarded, and unwanted. ¹⁸ However, people with disabilities can live happy, meaningful, and purposeful lives, as many have already done.

Doctors and gynecologists strongly encourage women to take “emergency contraception,” or more commonly referred to as “the morning after pill.” These medications stop a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. But doesn’t life begin at conception? What if a woman takes the pill and is already six-weeks pregnant? What happens to the child? In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) sell “the morning after pill” directly to doctors because the FDA is afraid it promotes promiscuity among young people. ¹⁹ However, plan B and other contraception pills are now available over-the-counter for 17-year-old, without parental consent.

Abortion also has its dangers. A higher risk of placenta previa (an obstetrical complication), and premature births in future pregnancies are probable. Increased abuse of drugs and alcohol, and thoughts of suicide often occur after an abortion. ²⁰

Instead of using abortion, many women decide to give birth to the child and then put him up for adoption. This is often difficult for the mother. After birth, many times the mother has the opportunity to hold the newborn before he is adopted by another family. She looks at the child, knowing this will probably be the last time she will ever see him again. She will never forget him. When someone has an abortion, she can never forget the child either. Abortion is not simply something you can sweep under the rug. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with adoption, but when a life begins, that life cannot simply be forgotten. In fact, there are plenty of couples who long to have a child, but can’t. So many husbands and wives turn to adoption agencies in the hope to find a child they can love and nurture. So why would so many people take this opportunity away from them by having an abortion?

We’ve discussed abortion and adoption, but there’s yet another option a pregnant women can choose: acceptance. By taking responsibility for one’s action and keeping the baby, one will never have to worry about what “might have been.” They can have the joy of raising a newborn child, but remember this is a big responsibility. Teenagers and adults alike need to realize that their actions will produce results. You reap what you sow. As a nation, we must take responsibility for our actions, not try and cover them up. We must step up to the plate and reject abortion as the throwing away of innocent life, and turn either to adoption or acceptance.

In recent years, the abortion debate as been presented before the courts many times. One of the most controversial cases in the U.S. is Roe vs. Wade. In 1973, the U.S Supreme Court justices struck down all state laws that severely restricted abortion. ²¹ Blackmun, one of the seven Supreme Court justices in Roe vs. Wade stated this as their reasoning, “All this together with our observation…persuades us that the word person does not include the unborn.” ²²

In the Dred Scott vs. Sanford decision, a slave was declared not a person and was refused protection from the Constitution. Likewise, in the Roe vs. Wade case, an unborn child was declared not a person and was also refused protection by the Constitution. ²³ Just as slavery was abolished, abortion must also be abolished. Both are wrong in the eyes of the Lord and should be in ours.

In 1992, the public became better aware of a specific abortion procedure called partial-birth when Marvin Haskell, M.D. gave a presentation to the National Abortion Federation. Although doctors say a similar procedure was used since the 1970’s, the facts were now fully brought into public view. People realized the inhumanity of partial-birth abortion, and began to speak up for the unborn. Out of this came the Pro-Life Movement. ²⁴

Partial-birth abortion is performed when the mother is giving birth or by induced birth. Just moments before the first breath is taken, a deadly blow is given to the skull of the child. Studies have shown that the baby feels horrendous pain. ²⁵ A nurse who witnessed three partial-birth abortions spoke before a Judiciary subcommittee of the House of Representative about one performed on a 26 ½ week old fetus with Downs Syndrome, “The baby’s little fingers were clasping and unclasping, and his little feet were kicking,” right before the procedure. ²⁶ Partial-birth abortion is often compared to infanticide. ²⁷ The legal context for feticide is “fetal homicide” or “child destruction” and refers to the criminal act of killing a “fetus” by kicking or injuring a pregnant woman. However, the medical term for feticide is “abortion.” ²⁸ Anyone who performs abortion can be charged with homicide, except doctors. They are getting away with murder.

Legislation has been brought before the leaders of our nation regarding partial-birth abortion. President Bill Clinton twice vetoed a ban on partial-birth proposed by Congress because it didn’t include a “health exception”. However, Congress later found that partial-birth abortions were actually dangerous to the mother’s health. ²⁹

President George Bush signed the Partial-Birth Ban Act on November 5, 2003. He stated, “For years, a terrible form of violence has been directed against children who are inches from birth, while the law looked the other way. Today, at last, the American people and our government have confronted the violence and come to the defense of the innocent child.” ³⁰

However this decision is already starting to unravel, mainly due to the absence of a “health exception.” In Stenberg vs. Carhart, the Nebraska court ruled, in a 5-4 decision, that the partial-birth ban was unconstitutional because it did not protect the mother’s health and stopped all simple and “safe” abortions in the second trimester (months 4-6). ³¹ Virginia, Michigan, Utah and other states have also struck down bans on partial-birth abortion because they were considered by the courts to be “unconstitutionsal.” ³²

Yet another bill was passed during the Bush administration with which Pro-choice groups did not agree. The Unborn Victims of Violence Act, more commonly referred to as Laci and Connor’s Law was signed by President Bush on April 1, 2004. Bush stated,”Any time an expectant mother is a victim of violence, two lives are in the balance, each deserving protection, and each deserving justice. If the crime is murder and the unborn child’s life ends, justice demands a full accounting under the law.” Bush’s 2004 presidential race opponent, John Kerry, voted against the bill, stating, “I have serious concerns about this legislation because the law cannot simultaneously provide that a fetus is a human being and protect the right of the mother to choose to terminate her pregnancy.” ³³

The law originated from the Scott and Laci Peterson case. In 2002, Scott Peterson murdered his wife Laci, who was pregnant at the time with their son, Connor. The passage of this bill has enraged Pro-choice groups because it recognizes the unborn child as a human being in a sense. By this law, an unborn child is protected under the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution which states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”(Italics added) ³⁴ This is why Pro-abortion groups do not want to admit that an unborn child is a person. If an unborn child were a person they would be protected under the Constitution.

Other legislation that attempted to deter the Pro-choice movement includes the Hyde Amendment passed in 1977 which forbade Medicaid from paying for abortions. ³⁵ In 2006, South Dakota proposed a bill to make all abortions illegal. However, it failed to go through and was defeated in the 2006 midterm elections. ³⁶

People often talk about how if abortion were not legal, then many pregnant women would die from attempted abortions performed without a doctor’s supervision and a sterile environment. However, they easily forget about the murder of millions of unborn children since abortion remains lawful. ³⁷ In 2006, Nicaragua and in 1998, El Salvador passed laws banning all abortions, even those involving rape, incest, and cases where the mother’s life is in danger. ³⁸ Ireland and Islamic nations have also refrained from participating in this “legal holocaust” of the unborn. ³⁹ Think about that, just as millions of Jews were murdered during the Holocaust, millions of unborn children are being murdered today. Not in some far away land, but right here in America!

Much legislation has been passed and many opinions have been made about abortion. Many people believe abortion is the right and private choice of the mother. People who associate themselves with the Christian community claim abortion is morally and ethically wrong, but they often give the “OK” for abortion cases involving rape, incest, or endangerment of the mother.

Man is sinful and does not want to admit that the tiny little cell formed after conception is an actual human being. They will not acknowledge that the formation of a child in the womb is just as much a miracle as the birth of a child is. Someone cannot have the potential to be a human being. They’re either human or their not.

There are laws protecting endangered species of birds. The eagle, for instance, is protected, along with its nest and eggs. ⁴⁰ If anyone harms these birds, then they will have to face the consequences. Why then are we not so careful as to protect our unborn children?

What does God have to say about all this? Well, the Bible says that God knew David and Jeremiah before they were even formed. The Bible also uses the same Hebrew and Greek words to describe a child in the womb and after he is born. ⁴¹ Exodus 21:22-23 states, “If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life.”(Italics added) ⁴² Notice how God says a life for life. God recognized the unborn child as life, as a human being, and anyone who harmed the unborn baby would have to face punishment.

The Canaanites served a false god called Moleck. They would lay their newborn child in the flaming arms of this idol for sacrifice. The Canaanites would beat their drums loudly so they could not hear the piercing screams of the babies. Just as the Canaanites were judged for this cruel and evil act, so America will be judged for the mass murder of the unborn.

Just recently, the Oxford Eagle wrote about the remains of a “fetus” found in the front yard of a home. A woman called the Oxford police when she discovered her dog was sniffing of what appeared to be the body of a baby. The male “fetus” was decapitated, and seemed to have been there for two or three days. Further investigation and an autopsy will give more information on the child and help find his mother. OPD Chief, Mike Martin, said, “It’s illegal to destroy a fetus like that.” ⁴³ What makes this any different than abortion other than you don’t have to pay a doctor? Yes, it was dangerous, but so is abortion.

There is more to come in the abortion controversy. Our nation’s government is becoming more liberal and moving farther away from God by the minute. How patient God is for allowing our nation to continue after all the harm we have done and continue to do. We, as Christians, must pray that there would be a revival and that people would realize and acknowledge that the unborn are human beings. We must pray for the leaders of our nation, that God would touch their hearts. If our nation is going to continue in the path its going, then we are destined for ruin. The unborn are precious in the eyes of the Lord. The murder of millions of unborn children will not go unpunished. It must stop.