Two years ago, the Supreme Court overturned the disastrous Roe v. Wade decision. It was one of the greatest conservative victories of the last half-century, but the political climate has not been friendly to pro-life policy in the time since. Many Republicans now seem willing to abandon the topic of abortion entirely, which may leave pro-lifers politically homeless.
The pro-life cause is one of the most important fights of our day, even if it is controversial in our broken world. Protecting the dignity of human life is perhaps the single most important role of the state, and fostering a culture that respects life is fundamental to the conservative movement.
Pro-lifers have been steadfast in their commitment to protecting life from conception for decades, but pro-choicers are changing their goalposts. They have abandoned the “safe, legal, and rare” rallying cry and have now shifted to “shout your abortion.” No longer are leftists arguing that abortion is a necessary evil — they believe it is an active good. In some states, abortion is now legal throughout the entire pregnancy, seemingly operating under the assumption that the vaginal canal magically creates life in the seconds before birth.
Unfortunately, the pro-abortion crowd is winning. In state after state, pro-lifers have lost referendums or have been defeated in legislatures. Public opinion polling, furthermore, shows general support for abortion — albeit not to as extreme a degree as the Left is pushing for.
As it stands now, it is clear that the pro-life movement needs a soft reboot. Pro-lifers are some of the most principled people in politics because they are dedicated to fighting for the lives of the most innocent among us. These principles are important and admirable, but they sometimes interfere with prudence. For example, pro-life organizations have actively opposed bills that allow some exceptions despite otherwise protecting life.
Recognizing the contradiction between what is politically feasible and what is morally right, pro-lifers need to be willing to accept some compromises in the short term. This means that exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother should be included in bills that generally protect the life of the unborn. This is not to undermine the tragedy of abortion or to make a moral case in defense of it, even in these extreme cases. However, allowing these exceptions is politically necessary in almost every state.
In bluer states where near-total bans are not realistic at all, pro-lifers need to fight for gestational limits as early as possible. Whether this is 12 weeks, a heartbeat, or some other arbitrary measure, protecting as many lives as we can needs to be the goal. We cannot let perfection be the enemy of better.
Another rising fight is around in vitro fertilization, which is somehow even more morally complex than abortion. Sweeping IVF bans are neither realistic nor advisable, but the destruction of innocent human life needs to be prevented. Legislation that ensures the number of embryos created per IVF cycle does not exceed the number of embryos implanted in the mother’s uterus is the best place to start.
Finally, while most of the focus is on the state level now, national pro-life legislation should not be frowned upon. The decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization did not return abortion debates to the states. It returned them to the legislators, including Congress. Democrats have made clear that they want to codify abortion laws at the national level, so a Republican approach of “leave it to the states” would certainly result in a devastating loss at some point. At the very least, late-term abortions need to be banned federally.
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As long as hookup culture remains socially acceptable, the decline of the church and the nuclear family continues, and left-wing “sexual revolutionaries” fight to destroy all truths and morals, the pro-life movement will be fighting an uphill battle. To move forward, pro-lifers need to focus on a broader restoration of traditional values, with the protection of unborn children being a key aspect of this.
Pro-lifers cannot turn to despair in the wake of recent losses because protecting the dignity of human life is simply too important.