Abortion: A Rational Look at An Emotional Issue

by R.C. Sproul

All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. —Edmund Burke

If you care about the slaughter of the innocent, then for God’s sake, speak up. Speak to your family. Speak to your neighbor. Speak to your friend. Speak to your doctor. Speak to your minister. Speak to your congressman. Let your voice be heard in a chorus of protest. Yours is only one voice, but it is a voice. Use it.

As we have already seen, the pivotal group in shaping cultural opinion is the middle-ground, pro-choice group. Here is the most fertile field for finding people who will cross over to the pro-life position. It is always a good strategy to concentrate efforts on the most likely prospects.

Liberal churches have so vigorously supported the women’s-liberation movement that they have accepted the pro-choice position as part of the package. This has created an almost bizarre liberal contradiction.

The multitudes of honest liberals who have strong convictions about human dignity and foundational human rights would seem to be ripe for reversal of their position on abortion. These people need to be encouraged to look more deeply into the underlying human life issue that is central to the abortion debate.

Every pro-life activist should make it a point to ask his or her physician whether he or she does abortions or refers patients to abortionists. If the answer to either question is yes, a boycott is in order.

Pro-life activists need to pressure politicians who are so directly responsible for legislation. Candidates for office need to hear from us. There have been bold and courageous elected officials who have suffered for the cause of the rights of the unborn. They need our encouragement and support. Likewise, the president of the United States needs encouragement for his leadership in this struggle.

We must draw the line between what is a legitimate form of protest and what is not. It is no easy question to solve, and I must confess that I have not resolved it in my own mind. However, the urgency of the abortion issue requires us to protest to the very limit that our consciences allow.

The longer laws allowing abortion on demand remain in effect, the more likely it is that society will become hardened in heart. Continuing the struggle against abortion is not enough. We must accelerate our efforts until no human child is destroyed under the sanction of law.