By Dave Andrusko
When you read an account under the headline, “The abortion debate: four decades later the fight and rhetoric remain the same,” you might think that the thrust of the article is, well, little has changed.
But, of course, if it quickly becomes obvious the reporter is pro-abortion, you know that’s just a ruse. Such is the case with Ivey DeJesus’s story in The Patriot-News, a Pennsylvania publication. After, in a fashion, clearing his throat, what DeJesus is really saying is that pro-lifers are even more extreme/violent than ever and that pro-choicers are needing to “fend off” even more “of what they say are growing attempts to regulate and restrict abortion services.”
A better perspective comes from Richard Doerflinger, an old friend who is associate director of pro-life activities for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In an interview, Richard was asked, “Where do you see opportunities for winning people over?” In his response he addressed how the “pro-choice” side is changing in a manner that will eventually boomerang on them.
One new element is that pro-abortion groups seem to be getting increasingly extreme.
Interestingly, they’re dropping the theme of “pro-choice” they’ve had for 40 years, preferring to talk about “women’s health,” which I suppose makes it easier to oppose conscience rights. …
Women’s freedom is being demoted, not only as a theme, but in reality.
It’s an increasingly coercive agenda, which I think gives us an opportunity to win people over by asking, “Is this what the movement formerly known as ‘pro-choice’ actually means? Maybe you agree with us more than you think.”
The bottom line we should never forget. “Pro-choice” means you agree with their choice: abortion for any reason or no reason.