I was talking to a friend recently when the topic of abortion came up. Knowing I was a Catholic Christian, he gently began pressing for my “opinion” on the subject that has generated great attention since the 1970’s when Roe v. Wade was handed down by the United States Supreme Court. The conversation was warm, friendly, and one I believe is an example of authentic dialogue on a controversial topic. Today, we continue the dialogue as good friends.
I shared the five well-known, widely-disseminated scenarios that I believe should be pondered by everyone when navigating the sensitive topic of abortion.
What would you do?
(1) There’s a preacher and wife who are very, very, poor. They already have 14 children. She finds out she’s pregnant with number 15. They’re living in tremendous poverty. Considering their poverty and the excessive world population, would you recommend she get an abortion?
(2) The father is sick with syphilis, the mother has tuberculosis. They have four children. The first is blind, the second has died, the third is deaf, and the fourth has tuberculosis. She finds she’s pregnant again. Given the extreme situation, would you recommend an abortion?
(3) A white man raped a 13-year-old black girl, and she got pregnant. If you were her parents, would you considering recommending abortion?
(4) A newly married couple are told that their child had a significant chance of being born with down syndrome. The couple was advised by their medical doctor that the best course of action would obviously be an abortion. Would you consider the abortion?
(5) A young girl is pregnant. Her fiancé is not the biological father of the baby. Would you consider recommending abortion?
Why would it matter?
In the first case: you have just killed John Wesley, a great Protestant evangelist in the 19th century.
In the second case, you have killed Beethoven.
In the third case, you have killed Ethel Waters, the great black gospel singer.
In the fourth case, you just killed my fifteen year-old son, who has no medical problems.
If you said yes to the fifth case, you have just declared the murder of Jesus Christ.
Scriptures that have guided my faith
“God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).
“Truly children are a gift from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3).
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13)
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14)
“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16)
“You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13)
