“If I’m pregnant, I’ll just have another abortion. It’s no big deal,” Kaitlyn* told the nurse. Kaitlyn has already had two abortions. She spoke about the possibility of another one as if she were speaking about getting her hair cut. Or maybe having a tooth pulled.
And why wouldn’t she? Kaitlyn has believed the lie that abortion is a simple medical procedure with no moral implications or long-term impact. If it’s her choice to have one abortion, because it’s “my body, my choice,” then why shouldn’t she have three abortions? Or four or five?
If one abortion is OK, there is no reason that subsequent abortions are not.
Our culture justifies abortion. Those around us believe that, in the midst of poverty or challenging circumstances, abortion may be in the best interest of the woman. And shockingly, some believe, abortion may even be in the best interest of the child.
A few years ago, a reporter asked me about women and babies living in The Elizabeth House. She said something very like, “Aren’t you subjecting these women and children to a life of poverty (by encouraging them to carry their pregnancies to term)?”
I wanted to shout, “NO!”
Was this reporter really asking if it would be better for these children to never have the chance to experience life? Unfortunately, yes, she was. She was also assuming that a hard-working single mom cannot improve her financial circumstances. And she was wrong.
But this reporter believes, and Kaitlyn believes, that if pregnancy is not convenient “right now,” then abortion may be her best choice. Or if a pregnancy will interrupt a woman’s school or career plans or may cause financial hardship, then ending the pregnancy is justified. No matter how many times it happens.
If abortion is a simple medical decision between a woman and her doctor, then she can make that decision as many times as she thinks it’s best for her.
Some might want to believe that abortion is a last resort kind of choice. While we may want to believe that a woman would not choose abortion more than once, the reality is much different. Nearly six in 10 women who have had an abortion (59%) reported having an abortion before, according to a 2014 U.S. Abortion Patients Survey.
Womens’ reasons for seeking abortion included financial reasons (40%), timing (36%), partner related reasons (31%), the need to focus on other children (29%) and that the pregnancy interferes with future plans such as school (20%). Most women reported multiple reasons for seeking an abortion (64%).
In Kaitlyn’s case, having a baby right now was poor timing and would interfere with her other plans.
When abortion is morally neutral, choosing abortion makes sense. It makes sense for Kaitlyn to choose abortion, once, twice, three times because abortion “takes care of her problem.”
It makes sense because Kaitlyn believes a lie. She believes that abortion is nothing more than a simple medical procedure. The life of her child has no value. And her life, her body and her choices have little value. It simply does not matter what she does.
But we know the truth. We know that the truth can set Kaitlyn free from this lie. We know that Jesus came so that Kaitlyn could have life and have it abundantly. We know Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. We pray that Kaitlyn would come to know the way, the truth and the life – that she would come to know Jesus, the loving savior who is calling her to new life.
Would you like to pray for women like Kaitlyn? Join our prayer team.
*Name changed to protect privacy.