re: #274 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

If you see it as your “Christian duty” to “protect unborn life” then make it your duty to help the mother bearing the child decide to keep it and raise it and offer them the help they need.

If, however, your sense of “Christian duty” is limited to shaming and shouting at women seeking abortion counselling or banning access to it altogether, then I see your sense of duty as highly misguided.

I knew a woman who used to participate in clinic protests. One day at a protest, as she watched a woman walk the gauntlet, she realized that the woman was obviously in a desperate situation (dirty torn clothes, worn shoes, etc.) and suggested to several of the protesters that perhaps what the woman needed was some help and support, rather than harassment. My friend had an epiphany when several of the protesters refused to even consider the idea. She was particularly struck by the outright dismissal of the idea from several clearly well-to-do protesters (who came to the protests in expensive cars, etc.).

That was the last protest she attended. She remained strongly “pro-life”, but demonstrated the sincerity of her beliefs by adopting a black “crack” baby that no one wanted. And she worked hard to raise him as best she could, including attending a predominately black church to build a support structure for the child, understanding that he would face issues she couldn’t understand.

Although I disagreed with her position, I have nothing but respect for her, as she truly lived according to her beliefs. And the last I heard, the child (now a middle schooler) was doing well and was happy.

My friend’s Christian witness was far more effective and Christ-like than any of the clinic protesters.