“Pray to end abortion.”
That’s the mantra of the religious, anti-abortion campaign that’s currently taking place across the United States and Canada, including an effort focused on Fredericton’s Morgentaler Clinic.
The campaign, 40 Days for Life, began in a lone Texan town in 2004, but has grown significantly since then. Now, anti-choice activists in cities across the U.S. and Canada and a few overseas adopt the bi-annual campaign and simultaneously carry it out in their own locality. The campaign, based on the biblical theme of 40 days as a time of transformation, involves 40 days straight of fasting, praying, awareness raising, and constant prayer vigil outside of facilities that provide abortions. This fall campaign began September 23 and carries on until November 1. The campaign has a singular goal: to end abortion.
Though I passionately support abortion rights, I don’t revile those who believe abortion is murder. I also understand that many of who truly believe that the fetus-is-life feel compelled to prevent abortions from taking place. But here’s where I grow frustrated with anti-abortion actions such as 40 Days for Life: they’re trying to end abortion without trying to eliminate the need for abortion.
40 Days for Life isn’t talking about ending abortion by preventing unplanned and unwanted pregnancies, or preventing situations in which planned and wanted pregnancy cannot be continued. No, they’re simply opposed to abortion – even when the pregnancy threatens the woman’s life or is the result of rape or incest.
The truth is, so long as there is a need for abortion, there will be abortion.
Pointing out that simple reality isn’t meant to leave those who oppose abortion powerless or quell their dissent. Rather, it provides a framework to work with. Help prevent unwanted pregnancies by volunteering to teach a sex ed. program (real sex ed. – abstinence-only programs are consistently proven to result in high rates of unplanned pregnancy); lobby the government to provide better social assistance programs so that pregnant women who feel they can’t support a child might actually find they can; work at a centre that aims to prevent rape, intimate partner abuse (which women are at higher risk of during pregnancy, by the way) or sexual exploitation. Most importantly, don’t try to have abortion recriminalized or prohibitively difficult to access, because the countries with the lowest abortion rates are the ones where it’s legal, free, and accessible to women without referral.
Instead of undertaking these projects, members of the anti-abortion community stand outside of abortion clinics. Instead of doing work that would not only prevent abortions but also improve women’s quality of life, they stand outside of clinics.
The understanding I extend towards those who oppose abortion ends when this activism begins, when instead of doing work that could prevent women from having to even consider having an abortion, they target women who’ve already made their difficult decision.
As I said, I understand the need to take action if your belief is that abortion is murder. And, as I said, I don’t want to silence the debate on the issue. But there is a line- anti-abortion activists’ right to dissent ends when it interferes with women’s choice because, at the end of the day, the right to choose and have an abortion is, in both Canada and the United States, a constitutionally enshrined right. And protesting outside of facilities that provide abortions absolutely interferes with that right.
At the Morgentaler Clinic in Fredericton there is a group of regular protestors (year round, not just during this campaign) that come out on Tuesdays, the only day the clinic actually performs abortions. Sometimes they largely keep to themselves, sometimes they call out at patients and carry dolls or signs of dismembered fetuses that the police eventually make them put away. Mother and Child Welcome House, an anti-choice facility that tells visitors that abortions are linked to breast cancer and infertility (patently false), also set up shop next to the clinic a few years ago.
I’m sure many people think clinic protest activity such as this is distasteful, but ultimately harmless.
Given the extreme violence that is often perpetrated against abortion clinics and workers, this probably does sound tame.
Being able to access abortion doesn’t just mean being able to actually get one. It means being able to get one without having to be warned by the clinic that there will be protestors, without having to be escorted by volunteers from your vehicle to the clinic because of protestors. Access means not having to worry that you will be approached by a sidewalk “counselor” who believes you are about to commit murder and tries to talk you out of it, as if you hadn’t really thought this through. Access means not having to research anti-abortion violence to see if the clinic you’re visiting has had incidents in the past and if you should be concerned about your safety. Access means your decision remaining a private matter, not subject to public scrutiny by strangers. Access means having a constitutionally sanctioned medical procedure performed without having the trauma of the situation further compounded by protestors. Anti-abortion clinic protesters aren’t helping clients, they aren’t effectively advocating their position to the public “” what they are doing is interfering with access and traumatizing clinic visitors.
These protestors call themselves pro-life. It’s a designation that I can’t bring myself to abide by. I sometimes feel petty for denying them their chosen title, but the fact is that I don’t think they’ve earned it. They aren’t pro anything “” they’re explicitly and reductively anti-abortion. Their definition of life is narrow: fetus-as-life. It doesn’t include the lives of the pregnant women or of born babies. The 40 Days for Life website has a counter that tracks the number of “babies saved” since the campaign began. While I’m sure that counter gives a sense of accomplishment to campaigners, I look at it, and at all the people and efforts they’ve mobilized, and think of the positive impact they could have if they chose to act in a way that is truly supportive of life, rather than simply opposing abortion.
Originally published Oct. 22 in [here].
7 Comments
Oh gosh! That’s insane– I had never heard of the 40 days project! I mean, that’s just INSANE!! ?It’s a bit like saying “Oh you evil people, we’ll be here for 40 days to exorcise the devil outta you!”
I think the entire project is somehow religiously colonial in nature: It’s about proving OUR moral superiority over yours.
It’s not just “anti-abortion”. It’s for fetal rights.
Unborn human beings are equal human beings.
The whole contraception thing is a strawman. As long as contraception fails, there will be a perceived need for abortion.
So the solution: don’t use contraception, don’t have sex until you can embrace life.
Contraception does not solve the problem. Contraception will always fail.
Not every abortion is due to a lack of resources. Sidewalk counsellors offer assistance and try to find means of carrying the pregnancy to term and caring for the baby.
The truth is, the real cause of abortion is that unborn children are not considered equal human beings with the right to life.
40 Days for Life is primarily a spiritual undertaking. It’s not about productivity, just like art is not productivity. It’s about prayer and confronting the evil of abortion head on.
I suppose we’ll have to fundamentally agree to disagree on this issue. But I would like to point out that, from my perspective, fetal rights is just another way of phrasing an anti-abortion position. So long as fetal rights only involves opposing abortion and not, say, advocating for better health care for pregnant women, then it’s all anti-abortion to me.
I couldn’t agree with Beth more and Suzanne less. I’m for keeping abortion free, legal, and safe. Women should always have control over their bodies, not the state or pressure from so called ‘pro-life’ groups.
http://www.abortionrights.org.uk/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
A round of applause my dear! Anti-abortion it is from here on out!!!
I’m totally with you on this one, if you don’t believe in abortions, then that’s fine. But call a spade a spade. If you don’t think that an abortion is ok when the safety of the mother and child are at stake how can you be pro-life?
And you hit the nail on the head when you said that as long as there is a need for abortions they will always be there. It’s just like what happens when prohibition kicked in during the 1920s. People still drank, but it was a lot more dangerous then (contact with the mob, and no quality control for moon shine) so why bother making a law in the first place? It’s just putting more people’s lives in danger.
The supporters of 40 Days for Life are caring, concerned people who are very involved in many initiates in their communities to assist women with unplanned pregnancies. They work or volunteer with community service agencies, women’s shelters, pregnancy crisis centres, churches, and are involved in social justice efforts. Many also include prayer as an important part of their lives.
Not to be confused with the agressive, intimidating anti-abortionists, the people participating in the 40 Days for Life are doing so quietly through prayer. They are deeply spiritual people who through their deep faith know that prayer can and has made a difference in their lives and the lives of others. In addition to those praying in front of the clinics, there are thousands more unable to attend who are praying from home.
When fully understood, what they are doing is truly an act of love…for the mothers, the fathers, the unborn babies, the grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and all the other people that share in their lives.
Abortion hurts; it not only hurts the mother in so many ways that are long lasting, it hurts all who know her. This legal ‘right’ is really taking away a woman’s ‘right’ to have and love her baby. Millions of babies will never experience the wonders of life on earth.
Sometimes a woman’s decision to have an abortion is because she doesn’t feel she has the support required. She is confused, lonely, and scared. She may not even know what is available to her to assist in having her child and keeping it…including free prenatal vitamins and milk; childcare, and education support. I have never heard of a woman regretting bringing her child into the world; however I have met many women who regretted having an abortion.
Yes, abstinence doesn’t always work, nor does birth control. Yes, the ideal would be waiting until marriage, which can be difficult. (This is one of the reasons why not so long ago courtships were short.) But let’s face it, our society wants everything NOW! We don’t want to wait for anything…instant gratification. But we shouldn’t give up on striving for more self control, more waiting for the right time. Mastering this would help with many other issues…alcohol, drug, food, gambling or other addictions, credit card and other debt; anger and violence. We don’t need more ’stuff’ or to ’stuff’ ourselves, we need a more caring and supportive society for all… including the unborn.
Humans were created to bring life into the world. It is a beautiful miracle when the conditions are right. Even when the conditions are difficult, with a bit of courage, humility, and reaching out for help, pregnant women will discover a multitude of resources available to them – and their beautiful miracle. And if we are supportive family members, friends, teachers, volunteers, and coworkers we will do what we can to help support these new families…without judgment or shame. Afterall, each baby born into this world (despite the conditions of its creation or current situation) has something important to contribute. Let’s honour each and everyone of these babies; they are gifts to the world!
When I was 23, in college, and living with my boyfriend, I got pregnant. I considered an abortion due to many factors, including increasing abuse from my boyfriend. When I went to my doctor’s office, I noticed a high school girl gushing over her 3-month old son. I commented and she said he was the best thing that ever happened to her. I never forgot that look of love on her face as she peered into his sweet little face, nor the way he looked at his mommy. I thought if she could do it, surely I could. On the day the abortion was scheduled I called and cancelled. It wasn’t easy…things didn’t work out with my boyfriend and I had many struggles. But there were lots of people and agencies and services that helped me. I did finish college, and have progressed through my career and have a great job I love. Through it all I have received so much joy from this life I said yes to. He is almost twenty now, a handsome, bright and funny guy attending university. When he was in elementary school he was tested and found to be gifted. But really I am the one who was gifted with this amazing life.
After many years of hoping I met a wonderful man and we are now married and we have a sweet little girl. And yes I do pray and have prayed during the 40 Days for Life…and I believe God answers prayers. He answered mine; may He answer yours.
Dear Beth,
Your comment is beautifully written, sensitive, fair, elegantly reasoned and above all, something so drastically missing in this debate, almost always–compassionate. There is no easy answer to this, as you so passionately explain; but there is a least-worst solution, and I believe with all my heart that it is the one you propose.
Best,
Michael
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