WHEN LIFE BEGINS
Spiritually beating up women after the fact doesn't reduce abortions
BY HEIDI HARRIS

Heidi Harris is co-host of KXNT 840 AM's morning show with Alan Stock. Listen to her Monday through Friday from 5 to 9 a.m. Other stories by Heidi Harris

There are some subjects a wise talk show host just doesn't discuss. Abortion is one of those subjects. For most people, there is no middle ground; either it's murder or it's not. There's not much room for discussion. Most agree that partial birth abortion is a barbaric practice. When does life begin? I'll settle this once and for all. It begins at 40!

As a teenager growing up in the pro-choice '70s, there wasn't much information on the down side of abortion. Flipping channels, I would sometimes catch guilt-ridden women crying on Christian TV shows like the 700 Club. I remember being horrified at the condescending way the various hosts would treat these women, and I can assure you that it did not change my views on abortion. If anything, I was turned off by religion. Not until years later would I become a Christian. It was then I realized that those TV shows didn't represent Christ.

As an adult, naturally I see the ramifications of Roe vs. Wade, especially in the way we as a society view life in general. If you're not convenient, we won't allow you to be born. On the other end of the life spectrum, if you're old and inconvenient, we'll just let you die. There are people on both sides of the issue who view abortion or the possible loss of abortion rights as the biggest issues facing America and some have devoted their lives, their political campaigns and their careers to the cause. 

Apparently, some anti-abortion groups believe scare tactics are the best way to tackle the issue. They're constantly citing statistics that link abortion to breast cancer or suicide. I can't address the abortion/breast cancer link, but when I hear yet another story of a woman's suicide that's linked to "abortion shame," I'm taken back to the old 700 Club days, and the eerie feeling I had watching it. 

Over the pat few months, there's been a lot of coverage on the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, and some Christian magazines have featured photos of women in the fetal position, obviously wracked with guilt over past abortions. While I do agree that some women are heartsick over their decision, has it ever occurred to these groups that their treatment of these women only contributes to their pain?

I'm not for a moment defending abortion or suggesting that abortion be taken lightly by anyone, but the fact is, I personally know women who have had abortions, and although none of them are proud of it, in most cases they made what they believed was the only decision they could. These women are married now, and would never choose abortion again. 

I also know a woman who is devastated by the decision she made, because she aborted a pregnancy early in her marriage, for convenience, and then went on to have two children by the same husband a few years later. Every time she looks at her kids, she is reminded that there could have been another one. She has since come to view abortion as murder, and will live with her decision the rest of her life. She doesn't need anti-abortion groups to make her feel any worse.

There are people right here in Nevada trying to make a difference in the most effective ways, by arranging adoptions, starting homes for unwed pregnant women, or by offering post-abortion counseling. Isn't that preferable to the old, "don't you feel terrible that you killed your baby" approach? 

As Christians, we have to be vigilant that we don't become legalistic or self-righteous about the behavior of others. It's easy to say, "I'm not perfect, but I wouldn't ever do THAT." 

Whatever THAT may be, I sometimes wonder if the exploitation of remorseful women is less a matter of "getting out the message" than it is a manifestation of the legalistic, self-righteous attitude that turns people away from organized religion. 

Prevention of abortion should start before a woman has an unplanned pregnancy. Spiritually beating up women after the fact or using them as poster children for remorse doesn't reduce abortions, and may in fact do even more damage to those whose lives still have meaning and purpose. LW