The Breath of Life
stock image taken from UnSplash
Abortion, healthcare, and reproductive rights are being discussed in the news as Supreme Court deliberations have been leaked to the public in advance of a ruling on the constitutionality of banning abortion. Abortion is an important healthcare tool for women’s safety, liberty, equality, and livelihoods. I do not believe that it is virtuous or wise to ban it. What is more is that this issue has become a wedge issue to divide the public and consolidate power in favor of policies and movements that exploit and oppress the poor. There is a lot at stake here and I feel compelled to express ethics that are pro-choice and pro-abortion. I’m offering for consideration a simple outline in support of abortion and reproductive healthcare. It is based on the prophet’s call in Micah 6:8 to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. It views human life as sacred and beginning at breath.
Do justice - You have heard it said that life begins at conception but I say to you life begins at breath. Genesis 2:5 speaks of God knowing, forming, and then breathing life into humans. Its when God breaths the breath of life into human beings that we become living beings and bear the divine image. Therefore, to call abortion murder is unjust judgment. This doesn't mean that you have to agree with it or condone it as I do. This is simply offering an outlook that demonstrates a view of humanity that holds life sacred, holds scripture as sacred, and seeks a lifegiving, reasonable, and compassionate dialogue for public policy and community life.
Love mercy - Carrying a pregnancy to term is difficult and important work. If someone decides that they do not want to do this work, for any reason, then it is wrong to compel them. Loving mercy respects the choices and bodily autonomy of pregnant persons and makes available safe and loving healthcare for pregnant persons that do not wish to give birth.
Walk humbly with God - To ban abortion is to put yourself in control over the lives and bodies of pregnant people and healthcare workers. Humility is not controlling. Humility walks along side the vulnerable as God does rather than lord over them. I do not believe that humility would invade the medical records of others to determine who is pregnant and mandate healthcare choices for pregnant persons. Abortion bans require exactly such invasions of privacy and denial of dignity.
This brief outline is not meant to be exhaustive of the complex moral concerns around abortion and reproductive rights. It is simply an offering for consideration and meant to demonstrate that it is possible to hold life sacred and support abortion for whatever reason a pregnant person may choose it.
