I think anyone arguing that an embryo isn't Life is being stupid. The issue is Personhood. When does it gain the same rights as any other Person? If it is at the moment of conception, the moment the egg and sperm combine into a single living cell, then we must protect its existence and enforce pregnancy at the point of a gun.
Which causes a bunch of unintended consequences like desperate women attempting abortions outside of medical facilities and either dying or being severely injured, or made deathly ill. If we, instead, consider personhood to be gained in some later developmental stage we can allow legal, safe, abortions before that stage is reached.
If you think forcing a woman to remain pregnant, with the threat of violence (because all laws are ultimately backed up with the threat of violence), then you are going to cause more suffering and death. Period. Look at any country where abortion is absolutely outlawed. Go on, look.
If what you want is to control women's bodies, and force pregnancy and birth, you are not pro-life, you are pro-birth. Once the child is born, if you are not willing to help the mother and child to survive and thrive in the world, you are not pro-life, you are pro-birth. If you want that child to suffer in poverty and eventually become a criminal just to survive, then eventually get killed in the violence that ensues, or by the death penalty, then you are not pro-life, you are pro-birth.
I am pro-life and pro-choice. I believe it is morally wrong to end a pregnancy artificially, BUT I believe it is More Wrong for the government to force a woman to remain pregnant when she very much does not want to be. It is Just as wrong as a government forcing a woman to get an abortion.
I was taught to not judge anyone's immortal soul, that the only Judge is God Himself. Therefore even though I disagree with abortion I will not do or say anything accusatory, or attack anyone, for making that choice. Whatever eternal consequences we each face eventually is between us and God, no one else.
Good MAEN.
