A Soapbox

Last Sunday was Sanctity of Life Sunday. Basically, it means that at church there is a sermon about how all life is sacred, specifically centered on abortion, (we did not get that sermon, I am thankful for that) and prayers about abortion.

For the record, I do not agree with abortion. WAIT! Don’t go!

I also don’t believe that a 13 year old girl who has been raped and is now pregnant should be forced to have that child. I don’t believe that a woman who has a tubal pregnancy should have to jump through hoops to terminate that pregnancy. I don’t believe that a woman whose child is going to be born brain dead should have to carry to term if she doesn’t want to do so.

I do have issues with using abortion for birth control. But I am not sure I have the right to tell someone they can’t do that. It seems to me that one issue at the core of this debate is when you believe life begins. If you believe that life begins at conception, you may be more likely to question abortion. But, I can’t regulate how you feel about the beginning of life. And, I think abortion is hard on the woman and anyone else involved. It seems like compassion would be the way to go, here. I have thankfully never been in a position where I had to make that decision. Who knows how I, or any of us, would choose if we were not, or are not, in that position.

The problem with the whole debate is everyone is too busy talking and listening to themselves and not spending enough time listening to anyone else. I think they are all going about this wrong. Can’t we all agree that it would be great if the need for abortion was less? Then let’s meet in the middle and figure out how to make that happen. What we need to do is eliminate the need for abortions as much as we can. Let’s put our heads together and figure out why so many women are getting pregnant with babies they don’t want or can’t keep, and solve those problems. More sex education, perhaps. And teaching our people young and old that No means No. I’m sure it would be a long list.

Now. Here is my issue with Sanctity of Life Sunday. If you are preaching that Life is Sacred, then all life has to be included in that. You want to save the babies? Are you also going to make sure they have a safe home to grow up in? If not, this Sunday is just about abortion. Are you also against the death penalty? Because I don’t feel like you can be against abortion because you feel life is sacred and also be for the death penalty at the same time. If life is sacred, then all life is sacred.

Peace,

Kathie