My friend says she favors a liberal abortion policy because it prevents child abuse in some cases. What are your thoughts?

 

Perhaps one day we'll hear the argument that murdering your husband or wife should be legalized to prevent spouse abuse. Ridiculous as it is, this is the rationale behind the argument that abortion--killing a baby in the womb--will reduce the chances of that child being abused after birth. Seen in context, it's simply illogical. The incidence of abused, abandoned, neglected, and mistreated children has skyrocketed since the 1970s, when the radical feminists told us that abortion would make every baby wanted and loved. What it actually did was cheapen life at every stage of development.

While there may be unexpected, unplanned pregnancies, there are no unwanted babies. The list of couples wanting to adopt literally runs into the millions. Across the country prospective parents are pleading for the opportunity to take a child into their hearts and homes. Unfortunately, the desire to adopt is often frustrated by the lack of available babies.

Murder is not the answer for the so-called unwanted child. I must agree with Mother Teresa, who has said, "The greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching the people to love but to use any violence to get what they want."1

1. National Prayer Breakfast, Washington, D.C., 3 February 1994.