Late-Term

The Bible teaches us in Job 31 that our value as human beings is not determined by our social status or occupation, nor by location inside or outside the womb. We find these words:
13 "If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me,
14 What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?
15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

The Bible shows us God's viewpoint on life in the womb.  We find instances, such as with David, who recognized God's handiwork in crafting him in his mother's womb, Jeremiah, who had the call of God placed on him before he was born, and John the Baptist, who responded to the presence of Jesus while still to be born. What a disservice we do to our Lord and His intentions as a culture by refusing to acknowledge His hand and taking life in the womb. 

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I want to go to the first chapter of Luke and capture one aspect of the Christmas narrative - the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth, the mothers of Jesus and John the Baptist, respectively. We see that John the Baptist in the womb recognized and responded to the presence of Jesus. Beginning in verse 41, we can read these words:
41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

As candidates for President gathered on a stage in Milwaukee recently, they - at least some of them - had their opportunity to address the issue of abortion.  I believe one component of a winning political strategy for pro-life candidates is to continue to point out the support of some politicians for abortions at any point of pregnancy, even up until the time of birth.

But, a former White House press secretary believes that to be a myth.  The Daily Citizen of Focus on the Family reported that Jen Psaki, who is now a host on MSNBC...tweeted, 'No one supports abortion up until birth.'”  To which the article said, "There’s just one problem...Psaki is dead wrong."

The proof, according to the article:

There are seven states in the Union – Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon and Vermont, plus Washington, D.C. – that currently have no gestational limit on when a woman can obtain an abortion. These states permit women to get abortions when their preborn baby is 25, 30, 35, 38 or 40 weeks old. There is no age limit.

Obviously, in these states, there are individuals – state lawmakers for example – who support abortion up until birth. Otherwise, abortion would be restricted at some point in a woman’s pregnancy.

Various other states – including Michigan and California – passed ballot measures last year that enshrined abortion as a “right” in their state constitutions. These measures ensured abortion was legal up until viability – generally 22-weeks gestation – but also permit any abortions if an abortionist determines it is necessary for a woman’s “heath” or “mental health.”

As the article notes, "These “health” exceptions are so broad as to effectively permit abortion up until birth."

These positions are clearly out-of-step with the American people.  Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America cites a poll from last year, stating, "A Harvard-Harris national poll found 72% of voters would limit abortions by no later than 15 weeks..."  Support for the position of "abortion until birth?"  Only "10% of voters," according to the same poll.  There is hardly an overwhelming pro-abortion consensus in our country; I believe that you have many who realize that the taking of unborn life is wrong, but for whatever reason, they have been condition to think that to allow abortion is somehow acceptable. You have majority support for limits because there is not majority support for unfettered abortion, like some espouse.

Another so-called "journalist," Katie Couric, tweeted recently: “Worth noting that fewer than 1% of abortions occur in the third trimester.”

The Daily Citizen article, written by recent Meeting House guest Zachary Mettler, stated:

It’s true that most abortions occur early in a woman’s pregnancy. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t important to consider how our laws should govern late-term abortions.

An estimated 15,000 late-term abortions occur every year in the United States alone. The issue of late-term abortion surely matters to these preborn babies and their mothers.

The article quoted another poll which shows greater support for late-term, relating that, "according to an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll conducted in April 2023, a small minority of Americans – 22% – say abortion should 'be available any time during a pregnancy.'" Mettler notes:

This would equate to tens of millions of Americans who support absolutely no limits on abortion – obviously, this means there are many who “support abortion up until birth.”

And, the Charlotte Lozier Institute noted that statistics on late-term abortion are inadequate.  An article updated last year said:

Data from both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Guttmacher Institute on total abortions and late-term abortions suggests that approximately 1.1 to 1.3% of abortions are carried out at 21 weeks of gestation and later. The true percentage may be even higher, as the CDC estimate does not include multiple states where late-term abortions take place (including California and Maryland). 

And, the article notes that, "Each year, over 50,000 abortions are performed after 15 weeks of gestation, when unborn babies can feel pain."

So, we certainly have a national moral and spiritual problem: hundreds of thousands of babies each year are losing their lives to abortion.  The Dobbs decision didn't eliminate abortion, it just moved the locus of control to legislative bodies.  States - and even the federal government - have to decide what their policy on the taking of unborn life actually is. Some have even done that directly through the ballot box, and voters in Ohio will be voting in November on whether or not to allow abortion through a woman's pregnancy.  

Fortunately, there have been numerous legislative and judicial victories along the way and the recent Fifth Circuit decision that would ban mail-order abortions and restore restrictions on the distribution of the abortion pill is a positive step forward, subject to the review of the U.S. Supreme Court.   We can be encouraged that the right to life is being upheld in many corners of our great country.

The Church is uniquely positioned to reduce the number of abortions in America.  We have the power of prayer as a powerful component of our strategy to do that.  We have pro-life pregnancy centers and churches who can minister effectively to women and their families in crisis pregnancies and proclaim the sanctity of life and help a person considering abortion to see clearly the importance of a choice for life.  There are factors that can cloud a person's judgment, and we, the Church, can recognize those and help a person to see clearly as she is met with the compassion of Christ.