Some Thoughts on U.S. "Pro-Life" & "Pro-Choice"

  This whole issue was very simple and clear-cut to me 40 years ago. After living outside the U.S. and learning more about history, race, socio-economics, U.S. politics, and other areas, I now see more clearly how multifaceted and complex the matter is. My thinking, geared toward Christian approaches rather than particular political positions, is very much in process, somewhat scattered, vulnerable to critics, and open to ongoing input.

  I still stand with the unborn. Now, I also more consciously stand with poor women of color, as well as with their children (both unborn and born). Better health care for poor women of color - which requires more government initiative - benefits their children, both unborn and born. I am not sure about the actual effect on poor women of color or their children (both unborn and born) of abortion-related legislation. I am also not sure about the actual effect of abortion-related legislation on all women or their children (both unborn and born) in the U.S., given the ideological use of related data.

  The “Pro-Life” (and coterminous “Moral Majority”) movement of the 70s has coalesced with conservative partisan politics. While religious concern for the unborn has motivated pro-life initiatives, so have the same Christian nationalist concerns (coupled with racist instincts) that drove the moral majority. "Pro-Life" represents an ideological hope for restoring an alleged "Christian America" that has never existed.

  Also, ongoing racial segregation has blinded pro-life politics (and conservative politics in general) to the realities of women of color and their children (unborn and born), as well as to how different kinds of legislation actually affects them. Again, political positions can too easily be ideologically driven at the expense of actual consequences for people affected.

  "Pro-choice" can be just as ideologically driven. Even so, God’s standards and love for all people supercede human rights to choose anything per se. However, what kind of legislation best serves the needs of all people in the U.S. - born or unborn, white or otherwise, wealthy or poor - is not as simple as many claim. Nor are different political positions necessarily as demonic as opponents claim.

  I tend to be more pragmatic and situational, rather than ideological, regarding the role of government in the complex ethical, religious, social, economic, and racial issue of health care for women and their children (born and unborn). Both major parties push for big government: one inflates military spending, the other provides more social programs. How we Christians position ourselves - re both macro and micro issues - will continue, I believe, to be diverse and not as clear as many wish.