Beyond Roe v Wade

by Jim Gordon

This article from earlier this year has been updated and republished due to the current events going on in regard to abortion rights.

There has been a lot of talk about abortion over the years since 1973 when Roe v Wade was approved. Even more now that states are changing laws and the Supreme Court is involved. It is a very controversial subject and there are many proponents on both sides of the issue.

We cannot be sure if or when Roe v Wade will be overturned, but I personally believe many of us are missing an important part in regard to abortion and a woman’s right to choose.

There is obviously a big debate on this issue, and whether it is right or wrong is beyond the point I want to make. I will say it is aggravating listening to so many people say my body, my choice in regard to wearing masks and getting vaccinated, yet many of the same people think it is wrong for a woman to say my body, my choice in regard to abortion.

An important issue as I see it is if Roe v Wade is overturned and abortion becomes illegal, what happens to the women who feel abortion was a good choice for them? There will be several actions people should be ready to take to help provide choices and financial assistance to those who are making important decisions on what is best for them.

Many Christian people have fought and argued for years, praying that abortion will come to an end. No matter what you believe about when a fetus becomes a human life, the problem will be what happens to the mother and to the child that may no longer be aborted?

For Christian people, their main goal seems to be to get this decision overturned and make abortion illegal. The thing that many do not think about is, what will many Christian people do if this happens? For many, they will be so elated that they have finally won this enormous battle they will forget the most important people involved, those who would have chosen to have an abortion due to many personal reasons.

My thought is, rather than rejoice in gaining a victory over something one group of people believe is wrong, why not start focusing on counter measures right now that could be a big help to all involved.

I think the important points of focus should be on sex education, family planning, healthcare, medical expense coverage for the mother and adoption options for the child.

In regard to sex education, it would be good to have classes for men and women on ways to avoid getting pregnant in the first place. Of course, abstinence is the best choice, but we have to face it, in our world today that is not going to be the first choice of many people. There are other alternatives and educating people on them could be a big help.

Family planning goes right along with this by helping people think about what they will need and all the responsibilities they will face once a child has come into their lives. So often people do not think about all the choices and financial decisions that need to be made, but talking about what all is involved in raising a child may be a help to some.

Healthcare is very important due to the many expenses involved. Pre-natal healthcare is so necessary and important. Along with this can be included the medical expenses during the pre-birth, hospital stay and birth of the child, plus the medical care after the birth. Many people choose to go the route of an abortion often times due to these reasons. If abortion became illegal, any money being used now could then be transferred to such things as covering medical expenses, and providing care and support for those who have their baby.

I know many Christian people think badly of Planned Parenthood, but the truth is they provide many opportunities for education, family planning and healthcare. I think opportunities like this should be increased and many other organizations could step up and provide the same care.

Adoption is another big help for those who would choose to have their baby but are not ready or prepared to keep and raise their child. There are so many loving people in our country that would love to have a baby but they cannot for various reasons. Making the adoption process easier and quicker could provide a good alternative to the mother and provide the baby a loving home in which to grow up. Obviously there has to be some safeguards in the process. People who have a long history of abuse, drug use or a continual criminal record would need to be weeded out, but that still leaves many loving people who would provide a great home for a new child.

The Christian church should be active with backing and paying for these opportunities. Rather than just sit back and be proud of themselves for getting this law overturned, they need to get involved. These opportunities need to be funded financially, our government needs to be pushed to provide additional funding and to work on adoption rules. Counseling services are needed for the health and emotional support for the mother of the baby.

Christians and churches can and should get involved in any way possible to help support the women and families who are going through this situation and all the decisions involved. In his book ‘Christians Against Christianity’ Obery M. Hendricks Jr. states the following: The hard reality is that if right-wing evangelicals were as concerned for the well-being of women seeking abortions as they are for their unborn fetuses, they would be willing to use some of the considerable energy and the billions of dollars they commit to lobbying activities against abortion and homosexuality to instead support and fund social structures, organizations, and agencies to remove a primary reason women elect to have abortions; the prospect of their being consigned to lives of poverty and unremitting struggle as the result of bearing a child for whom they cannot adequately provide. They could use their considerable clout to support governmental policies that could help mitigate the economic circumstances and lack of infrastructural support that compel so many women to seek abortions.

We need to realize that abortion will not end just because a law is changed. It will be harder and more dangerous, but abortions will continue either way. The points of focus I mentioned earlier should be for everyone. Women need to know they have choices other than abortion, but it is ultimately going to be the choice of the mother what she does. Every opportunity should be available to make it easier for the mother to choose what is best for her and her child. For Christian people, if Roe v Wade is overturned, they need to be ready to show love and support to the many women who need help and who are trying to make a decision on what to do. They need to be ready to assist with their money and/or time to provide the help and support needed for those who choose to bring a new life into this world.

Jim Gordon and his wife left the institutional church after spending over fifty years within the system. Jim wanted a way to express his thoughts and concerns about the religious system and why he and his wife decided to leave the institution but not their faith in God. Jim can be contacted by email at: jimgordon731@gmail.com