Dear John,

“Abortion is only a women’s issue.”

How many times have you heard this argument from the abortion industry or people who consider themselves to be “pro-choice”? My guess is that you’re already thinking of examples that you’ve seen or heard.

This message is pushed so hard by the abortion industry that it’s now deeply engrained into our society – even to the point that I hear some Christians repeating those very words. In fact, this narrative is gaining so much traction that Christians aren’t just saying it, they’re believing that abortion is no big deal.

According to a 2019 Pew Research Center Study, 43% of people who identify as Protestant say that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Among Catholics, 56% say the same.

In our culture, abortion is viewed as a hallmark of women’s rights. It’s viewed as a prime example of women’s empowerment and liberation. Some go so far as to say that abortion is a fundamental human right.

But the truth is, abortion doesn’t empower women – abortion exploits women.

And the evidence can be found in countless stories of women who have experienced abortion firsthand. One of these stories was posted a few weeks ago on AbortionMemorial.com – a website run by Human Coalition to provide mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings, and others impacted by abortion a safe place to share stories, thoughts, and prayers.

Here is a portion of the story:

“I’m so sorry I let your father coerce me into getting rid of you. Every night my soul is sad. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep properly. You are on my mind all day.

“[January 22, 2021 marks] a month since you’ve been gone. And it still feels like yesterday. Daddy left me to deal with all this pain alone and even though he’s distant, [he] has still continued to make things [difficult] for me. I think about how much I wanted to give you a life I never had and how I still do. But you’re gone now.

“Daddy, his friends, and his family keep telling me ‘You were only seven weeks.’ ‘Plenty of other women had abortions.’ ‘Get over it.’ And so many other painful things…

“I’ve had dreams about you and sometimes to fill the void even for a few seconds, I’ll hold an empty blanket and close my eyes and pretend you’re there…

“I’ve prayed and wanted to die for the past month just to be with you…

“Please forgive mommy. I love you more than words or my heart can ever express…” – Anonymous Post on AbortionMemorial.com

Abortion Date: December 22, 2020

This story is only one example of how abortion is not “just a women’s issue,” and how it can actually be used to exploit women. In many ways, abortion can be used by men to put all the pressure, all the pain, and all the burden on women.

For men who don’t want a child, abortion is used a weapon.

For men who are neither for nor against having a child, abortion is used to deflect from making a hard choice.

For men who simply don’t care about a relationship with the mom, abortion is used to forfeit any and all responsibility for their actions.

This isn’t to say that men are never impacted by abortion, because there are so many instances where men want moms to choose life or don’t even know about the abortion. There are also times when moms and dads agree with the decision to abort in the moment, but go on to deal with guilt and pain for years to come.

But there is no doubt that abortion is far more than just a women’s issue.

As you read more of the stories on Abortion Memorial, I hope you will consider how you can push back against the narrative that says men shouldn’t be involved in the abortion issue. And I hope you will consider how you can be a voice in your family, your church, and your community sharing the truth that abortion isn’t empowerment, it’s exploitation.

It will take all of us – women AND men – to end abortion in America. And we’re proud to have you as a partner in this mission.

For Life,

Jeff Bradford
President