It is unusual for a sitting president to publish an essay on a controversial topic. In 1983, however, Ronald Reagan did that in writing, “Abortion and the Conscience of a Nation”, marking the ten years since the Roe v. Wade decision.
Given the fact that the abortion debate continues in full force today, perhaps it is time to read his words again and consider his reasoning.
Reagan says, “We cannot diminish the value of one category of human life-the unborn-without diminishing all human life.” There is a broad consensus on both sides that acknowledges the humanity of the unborn. Furthermore, no one would argue that it is a living organism that is being “terminated”, to use a polite euphemism. The real question becomes, as Reagan asks us, “What is the value of human life?”
It seems that as a nation we value our personal lifestyle choices, standards of living, luxuries, career paths and sexual freedom more than the small child who begs to be protected. The tiny embryo, growing fetus and full term baby, each in danger of unlimited abortion, have their parents’ DNA, functioning limbs and organs, senses that can hear sound and feel pain, yet we close our eyes to these realities and cloak our consciences in order to rid ourselves of an inconvenience that might block our advancement or complicate our lives.
As Reagan pointed out, a faithful reading of the Constitution will find no basis to permit this so called “right” to abortion. He closes his essay by saying, “Abraham Lincoln recognized that we could not survive as a free land when some men could decide that others were not fit to be free and should therefore be slaves. Likewise, we cannot survive as a free nation when some men decide that others are not fit to live and should be abandoned to abortion or infanticide.”
Finally, for our family and others with adopted children, it is an extremely personal issue. We see the inestimable worth of each child who has been or might have been abandoned. Their potential for goodness, their dignity, their humanity, their need for love and their capacity to return that love are all eternal reasons to fight for their lives.
We pray that once again we might really be that country which protects the “unalienable rights” to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for all people.
Cindy Montanaro, Blandford
