Opinion: ‘Pro-life’ should be about more than just abortion

Talk about it

I have come to dislike the terms “pro-life” and “prochoice.” It seems they do not accurately define the breadth of the issues at hand.

For example, if people claim to hold a “pro-life” position, then we would assume that all of their views would support the essence and quality of life and not be limited to one issue, which at the current time appears to be abortion.

If one claims to hold a “prolife” position, then one should support good quality education from birth through college that nurtures and teaches creativity, critical thinking and offers a multi-disciplinary educational opportunity rather than teaching to a test.

If one claims to hold a “prolife” position, then one would support a system of health care that is not governed by big money insurance companies which do not have the patient’s well-being and quality of life in mind, but rather looks to how it can accumulate more wealth for its share holders and CEOs. One would support a system of health care in which the patient has freedom to choose his or her path of treatment and one in which the doctors would be well educated and offer compassionate care with only the patient’s well-being in mind.

A pro-life position would support a system of economy that is fair, just, equitable and works to support all families through offering a living wage and a system that does not exploit the poor, but offers them resources to lift families out of poverty, allowing them to become self-sufficient.

Pro-life people should seek a justice system that is not based on punishment, but rather redemption and fairness across ethnic, economic and cultural boundaries.

However, pro-life has been so limited to the issue of abortion that it leaves those of us who attempt to support life as described above — but also support reproductive choice and education — as having to state we are pro-choice. We are pro-choice because we are pro-life. We know that making abortions illegal will only return them to the back alleys where the health and well-being of women will be in jeopardy. We know of and remember the days when this was the case, and we do not claim to have such naiveté to imagine that it would not be the case again.

We are pro-choice because we are pro-family. We give women the respect and dignity to know what is best for their families, their lives and their bodies, all of which should not be dictated by people making laws far removed from these women’s daily lives.

We are pro-choice because we are pro-faith. We have thoroughly researched the religious perspectives regarding the issue of abortion and have come to discover that the religious voices are multifaceted. We have come to discover that all the major religious traditions, including but not limited to mainline protestants, Jewish people and even a branch of Catholicism, have set forth statements regarding abortion and that in general, they do not support legislation that makes abortions illegal to obtain. Knowing this, we strongly encourage all people, whether pro-life or prochoice, to take time and research for themselves (see http://www.rcrc.org/index.cfm) in hopes that they will come to their own decision based on informative and well-thought out material.

Recognizing all of this, we who are pro-choice do not support or encourage abortions that are a matter of convenience, but we leave it up to and respect each woman’s intelligence, faith and position in her own life to make the best possible decision for all involved.

It has never been assumed that choosing to have an abortion is easy, and I pray that all women who have had to make that choice do so knowing that they have made the best possible choice for themselves and those they love while offering themselves grace and wisdom. I pray that others begin to view those of us who are pro-choice not as villains, but rather as people who have prayerfully come to realize that we are much more than pro-choice. We are pro-family and pro-faith. Finally, as this debate continues, I additionally pray that our pro-life positions will be broadened and expanded to include the many areas of our society that should support life.

The reflections in this article are solely my personal views.

The Rev. Kristi McLaughlin is pastor at Mitchell Congregational United Church of Christ.

Tags: kristi mclaughlin, opinion, abortion