THE MISSION OF THE PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT ( 5)
Nick Vasilyev
drastically -- but they would still take place by the hundreds of thousands
every year.
Mission: Evangelization? On the other hand, large-scale evangelization is
too broad a mission for the pro-life movement. It requires too much
expertise, time and effort, both for pro-life individuals and for the
movement as a whole. Large-scale evangelization is a job for preachers,
pastors, and professional missionaries. We as individual pro- lifers can
only evangelize effectively on a patient, long-term person-to- person
basis.
Our mission is truly single-issue. If we accept the "Seamless Garment"
theory, which holds that we are not truly pro-life unless we actively work
against all social evils, the pro-life movement will inevitably dissipate
its energies and burn out.
Pro-life activists must focus their efforts on one field and one field
alone: Abortion and its closely related issues. If we expand beyond this,
our efforts will simply be diluted to the point of ineffective
nonexistence.
Mission: Conversion! We belong to a truly single-issue movement. Pro-life
activists oppose the killing of human beings, both by abortion and
euthanasia. Therefore, if we are to be most effective, we must clarify our
mission, both as individuals and as a movement -- and our mission is to
oppose abortion and euthanasia!
Although pro-life activists generally think that certain other activities
are reprehensible, they do not spend a lot of their time marching or
writing against homosexuality, pornography, or prostitution; there are
other movements opposing these and other evils. The "Seamless Garment"
theory does not function logically, either at the individual or 'movement'
level.
Therefore, a general statement of the second-level pro-life mission is as
follows;
THE MISSION OF THE
PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT:
TO CONVERT THE PEOPLE OF THIS
NATION AGAINST ABORTION.
Our mission can be stated just that simply. We cannot lose sight of this
very specific mission.
Our ultimate mission is not really to directly stop abortion. Most
pro-lifers would be perfectly happy to have abortion legal in this country
through all nine months of pregnancy and for any reason -- if people
believed in the sanctity of life so strongly that no woman wanted an
abortion! As Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent has said, "I don't
think the real answer to the abortion problem is changing the laws or the
judicial system; what we need is changed hearts. We need a spiritual
revival in our country."[10]
This is the difference between merely stopping abortion and making abortion
psychologically impossible through conversion. After all, even the most
perfectly-written laws will be ignored by those who believe that
inconvenient life is cheap.
We are, by nature, members of a single-issue movement. There is nothing at
all wrong with that. If we as individuals lose sight of our mission, we
will become inefficient and burn out. If our movement loses sight of its
primary mission of conversion, the killing will go on forever.
References: Mission of the Pro-Life Movement.
"A radical is a man who knows where he is going when he moves."
-- President Woodrow Wilson.[11]
[1] Stephen Spender. Collected Poems, 1928-1953 . New York: Random House,
1955, page 32.
[2] Marvin Olasky. "Victorian Secret: Pro-Life Victories in 19th-Century
America." Policy Review , Spring 1992, pages 30 to 37.
[3] Ann Sheridan's letter entitled "Funding Flap," written to the National
Catholic Register , April 19, 1992, page 4.
[4] Jonathon Green. The Cynic's Lexicon . New York: St. Martin's Press.
1984, 220 pages, $18.95.
[5] Congressman Henry J. Hyde, quoted in "Henry J. Hyde: Great Pro-Life
Hero -- Great American." ALL About Issues , July 1981, page 24.
[6] Howard LaFranchi. "Wind From the West: Europe Gears for Abortion
Battle." Christian Science Monitor , August 17, 1989.
[7] "Abortion: Will It Haunt Us?" Peoria Journal Star . This article is
also reproduced in its entirety in National Right to Life News , May 16,
1985, page 2.
[8] Dr. Albert Schweitzer, at his 1952 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance
lecture.
[9] Obstetrician Joseph D. DeLee, M.D., 1940 Yearbook of Obstetrics and
Gynecology . Quoted in Jean Clayton. "Handicaps and Happiness." National
Right to Life News , September 29, 1983, page 6.
[10] Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent, quoted in "Football's
Greatest Receiver Speaks Out for Life! An Interview With Steve Largent."
ALL About Issues , March 1990, pages 12 through 15.
[11] President Woodrow Wilson, quoted in Eugene E. Russell. Webster's New
World Dictionary of Quotable Definitions (2nd Edition). New York:
Prentice-Hall, 1988. 674 pages, $15.95.
Further Reading:
Mission of the Pro-Life Movement.
"Do not fear when your enemies criticize you. Beware when they applaud."
-- Vietnamese politician Vo Dong Giang.[4]
Lester Cooper. Where Are Today's Daniels? True Books, Post Office Box 2172,
Carlsbad, California 92008. 1987, 115 pages, $5.00. This book addresses the
differences between Christian and secular governments, Christian's rights
and responsibilities in today's governments, especially with regard to
God's authority vs. civil authority, and as it pertains to civil
disobedience. Must Christians always obey civil government? The author says
that we must not obey a civil law if it is in conflict with God's law.
Philip K. Dick. The Golden Man . New York: Berkeley Publishing Corporation,
1980. 336 pages. This anthology of short stories includes a fascinating
little tale set in the near future: "The Pre-Persons," on pages 303 to 331.
It is the story of what life is like for children and dissenters once
Planned Parenthood (now all-powerful) has determined that life begins when
a person can perform algebraic mathematics -- at the age of twelve. Up
until this time, abortion is legal. Mr. Dick must have struck a raw
pro-abortion nerve with this story, because he states in his Afterword that
he received large volumes of unsigned hate mail and threats from
pro-abortion organizations. His story is an absolute chiller.
Paul B. Fowler. Abortion: Toward an Evangelical Consensus . Portland:
Multnomah Press, 1987. 222 pages, $11.95. Reviewed by John Jefferson Davis
on page 5 of the May 14, 1987 National Right to Life News . The author
traces the roots and social forces that decimated the Christian consensus
against abortion before Roe v. Wade , and argues against the statement that
the unborn are only 'potential persons.' The best part of the book is a
comprehensive examination of what Scripture says about life, death, and the
unborn. Mr. Fowler also challenges all Christians to do what they can to
end the abortion holocaust.
George Grant. Third Time Around: A History of the Pro-Life Movement From
the First Century to the Present . Wolgemuth & Hyatt Publishers, 1749
Mallory Lane, Suite 110, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027. 1991, 225 pages. The
author covers numerous topics, including the mission and activities of
early Christians in combatting abortion and infanticide; the history and
activities of the pro-life movement during the Renaissance; and the
resurgence of pro-life activism in the late 20th Century.
Father Robert J. Henle, S.J. "A Historical View of the Right to Life." The
Catholic League Newsletter , July 1981. This four-page reprint rebuts the
lie-packed 1981 National Organization for Women publication entitled "An
Abbreviated Chronology of Reproductive Rights, 2600 B.C. to the Present."
In addition to correcting all of NOW's deliberate falsehoods and
anti-Catholic slander, Father Henle shows that those ancient societies that
practiced cannibalism, slavery, oppression of women, perpetual warfare, and
had a great number of superstitions generally had very permissive abortion
and infanticide laws. Those societies that had what anthropologists call
the "high religions" and a high degree of civilization had a general
consensus against abortion. For example, the ancient Vedic writings of
India condemned abortion from 1500 to 500 B.C. Buddhism as far back as 600
B.C. totally condemned abortion. And, since 622 A.D., Islam has condemned
abortion.
Nat Hentoff. "The Indivisible Fight for Life." Studies in Law, Medicine &
Society . Americans United for Life Legal Defense Fund, Number 24. 343
South Dearborn Street, Suite 1804, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Telephone:
(312) 786-9494. 1987, 9 pages, $3.00. An analysis of the pro-life effort
from the viewpoint of a non-theist.
J.R. Lucas. Weeping In Ramah . 1987, $7.95. Order from: Life Issues
Bookshelf, Sun Life, Thaxton, Virginia 24174, telephone: (703) 586-4898. A
fictional account of how life would be in the future if the anti-life
forces gain complete control of society (this book is the pro-life answer
to the pro-abort fiction The Handmaid's Tale ). Describes how the
nationally-based pro-life groups have been neutralized and how a small but
determined pro-life underground risk and lose their lives in their struggle
to save babies. This is prophecy unless we can mobilize!
David Mall. In Good Conscience: Abortion and Moral Theory . Kairos Books,
1982. 166 pages, $18.50 hardbound, $8.50 paperback. Reviewed by Wanda
Franz, Ph.D., on page 20 of the January 6, 1983 issue of National Right to
Life News , and by Steven Baer on page 10 of the November 24, 1983 issue of
the same publication. This excellent book demonstrates the absolute
correctness of the pro-life position and demonstrates the destruction that
must inevitably occur in a society preoccupied with death.
Pope Paul VI. Octagesimo Adveniens ("On the Eightieth Anniversary of Rerum
Novarum "), 1971. A general call to action for all Christians and an
outline of the Christian mission. This and other church documents that are
landmarks in Catholic social teaching are available from the Daughters of
St. Paul, 50 St. Paul Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02130, telephone: (617)
522-8911, and the United States Catholic Conference Publishing Service,
3211 Fourth Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017-1194, telephone:
1-800-541-3090.
Professor Charles E. Rice. No Exceptions: A Pro-Life Imperative . Tyholland
Press, Box 212, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556. 1990, 131 pages, $8.00. A truly
outstanding examination of the basic pro-life moral arguments against
abortion. Pro-life direct and support activities are also described in some
detail. Recommended for all new pro-life activists, and those veterans who
want to redefine and sharpen their debating skills.
Francis Schaeffer. A Christian Manifesto . Westchester, Illinois: Crossway
Books, 1981. 157 pages, $5.95. Reviewed by John Waddey on page 7 of the
June 24, 1982 issue of National Right to Life News .
John Senior. The Restoration of Christian Culture . 244 pages, $9.95. Order
from Keep the Faith, 810 Belmont Avenue, Post Office Box 8261, North
Haledon, New Jersey 07508, telephone: (201) 423-5395. The author
contemplates many of the primary problems with our society, and finds them