25 Years of Loving Them Both
by David C. Reardon, Ph.D.
Twenty-five years of abortion on demand is something to mourn, and certainly many pro-life groups plan to do just that during the 25th anniversary of Roe v. Wade this coming January. By emphasizing a mourning attitude, however, we may only be adding fuel to the pro-abortion media’s efforts to portray the anti-abortion effort as a 25-year-old flop, soon to wither and blow away.
Instead of holding a mournful anniversary, giving the press every excuse to show how we have failed, perhaps we should instead find a way to use this important anniversary as a way to show the world how we have succeeded, matured, and have a great hope for the future. Along these lines, Cincinnati Right to Life and Dr. Jack Willke of the Life Issues Institute are promoting “25 Years of Loving Them Both” as an upbeat theme for pro-life rallies [Life Issues Connector, July 1997, (513) 729-3600].
The idea is to emphasize to the media how we have been faithfully working to protect both unborn children and their mothers these last 25 years. Indeed, we have spent far more time and money on helping women faced with crisis pregnancies than on educational and legislative campaigns to stop abortion. Clearly, helping women has always been an important part of what we do.
In addition, during the last 25 years we have learned so much about the pressures that lead women to abort. We have also grown in our understanding and compassion for the women and men who have been hurt, physically and emotionally, by abortion. As a result, post-abortion healing ministries are becoming more and more important to our efforts
As Dr. Willke writes, this theme “emphasizes both avenues of the pro-life movement–the educative, lobby and legislative branch which devotes itself to saving babies, as well as the service branch devoting itself to helping women. It is a constructive, almost joyful theme. Yes, the killing continues, and that is an unparalleled negative . But, yes, the positive aspects of this movement continue to grow and blossom, and that is truly something to celebrate.”
Roe v. Wade was bad law and bad public policy. It has caused tremendous suffering and death. But the good news is that it has brought out the best in pro-lifers who have learned how to better help women and men to avoid abortion, and how to help them find healing after an abortion. Now we must share what we have learned with the nation.
Originally published in The Post-Abortion Review 5(3) Summer 1997. Copyright 1997 Elliot Institute
