Underneath our society’s ongoing debate over abortion, we find a fundamental clash of worldviews--strong beliefs, feelings, and affections that flow from one's overall outlook on life. The debate is clouded by assumptions about freedom, sanctity, and what constitutes human rights. Hidden assumptions make conversation difficult, which is why you often find activists appalled at whatever they hear from the other side.
Occasionally, someone breaks through the divide. Stephanie Gray's talk at Google, "Abortion: From Controversy to Civility," combines solid reasoning and winsome presentation skills in order to make a compelling case for the pro-life position. As I listened to the analogies and questions she used for her talk at Google, I listed three takeaways for those of us who want to make a coherent, compelling case for life.
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation to prohibit taxpayers from funding elective abortions through their health insurance plans. House Bill 214 (HB 214), which Abbott’s statement called “an important piece of the Governor’s pro-life agenda,” was championed by Sen. Brandon Creighton and Rep. John Smithee in a special session. The measure does not contain exceptions for rape, incest, or fetal abnormalities.
“As a firm believer in Texas values I am proud to sign legislation that ensures no Texan is ever required to pay for a procedure that ends the life of an unborn child,” Abbott said. “This bill prohibits insurance providers from forcing Texas policy holders to subsidize elective abortions. I am grateful to the Texas legislature for getting this bill to my desk, and working to protect innocent life this special session.”
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A recent CBS News episode of “CBSN: On Assignment” has garnered some disturbing headlines this week with an episode entitled “The country where Down syndrome is disappearing.” The story reports on the nation of Iceland and the almost 100 percent abortion rate for preborn babies diagnosed with Down syndrome. The CBS story took on a tragically ironic tone:
Since prenatal screening tests were introduced in Iceland in the early 2000s, the vast majority of women — close to 100 percent — who received a positive test for Down syndrome terminated their pregnancy… Using an ultrasound, blood test and the mother’s age, the test, called the Combination Test, determines whether the fetus will have a chromosome abnormality, the most common of which results in Down syndrome. Children born with this genetic disorder have distinctive facial issues and a range of developmental issues. Many people born with Down syndrome can live full, healthy lives, with an average lifespan of around 60 years.
Iceland, with a population of 330,000, sees only about two children a year born with Down syndrome, CBS reports, noting that in the United States, about 6,000 babies are born annually with Down syndrome. While some women choose not to receive genetic testing, since an Icelandic law requires women be informed of the availability of the testing (and a majority of women do test), it’s a widespread practice. So is aborting the child diagnosed with Down syndrome. In fact, one mother even admits to CBS News that she, indeed, aborted partly from the pressure she felt, because it seemed so many mothers were doing it.
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