There is no doubt that abortion is one of the most controversial and emotional issues in this nation. It is an issue that has divided families, political parties, and even churches. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, both sides have gained control in different parts of the country.
With the narratives crafted by liberal propagandists, the pro-abortion mantra has shifted from “safe, legal, and rare” to “free abortion, on demand, and without apology.” The arguments for legalized abortion are nearly always framed in the context of cases of rape and incest.
In other words, the pro-abortion narrative is crafted around the one percent of all abortion cases, attempting to then justify the ninety-nine percent of elective abortion cases. This is called the “rape/incest exception.”
All things considered, exceptions for abortion can never be justified.
A Simple Syllogism
To avoid confusion, one must begin with a concrete definition of abortion.
Murder is the intentional act of taking the life of an innocent person. Abortion is the intentional act of taking the life of an innocent, preborn person. Therefore, abortion is murder. A miscarriage, while tragic, is not an abortion, though some in the medical profession misconstrue it as such. These definitions are critical to understand when engaging in conversations, especially when the “rape/incest exception” is discussed.
The Circumstances of Conception Do Not Determine One’s Worth
The exceptions most frequently presented in abortion debates are rape and incest. Both cases are responsible for one percent or less of abortions and exclusively deal with the circumstances of a person’s conception.
According to a 2004 survey by the pro-abortion thinktank, The Guttmacher Institute, “1% indicated that they had been victims of rape, and less than half a percent said they became pregnant as a result of incest.” A 2024 survey by the Charlotte Lozier Institute recorded similar findings, with rape and incest accounting for less than half of one percent of the reasons for obtaining an abortion.
It is quite evident that abortion due to personal preference is responsible for nearly all abortions, with rape and incest responsible for less than one percent. So, when engaging in conversations about rape, incest, and abortion, it is critical to state this statistical fact.
After clarifying the statistics on these abortion reasons, a pro-life apologist can discuss why abortion should never be the answer for rape and incest. Rape and incest exclusively deal with the circumstances of an individual’s conception; however, the circumstances of an individual’s conception should not determine his or her dignity and right to life.
The manner in which a person is conceived does not alter his or her humanity and thus his or her right to life. Every human being is made in the Image of God, and every preborn person inside the womb is innocent.
Justice for the Guilty…But Protection for the Innocent
When examining the cases of rape, it is important to identify the perpetrator and victim, while also asking what the just response to this egregious crime is.
The guilty perpetrator is the rapist, and he deserves the fullest punishment the law provides. The innocent victim is the woman, and she deserves our care and compassion.
There is also another innocent person involved – the baby.
The baby is completely innocent and should not be punished for the crimes committed by her father. After all, would it be just to take the life of an innocent person for crimes committed by another guilty party?
The purpose of our justice system is to punish the guilty perpetrators while exonerating and protecting the innocent. It would be a grave injustice to punish innocent people for the crimes of the guilty.
The same logic holds true of children conceived through incest. While we condemn the acts of rape and incest, the innocent babies conceived through these circumstances are human beings with the inalienable right to life.
If one were to examine ultrasound images of preborn babies, it would be preposterous to suggest that the humanity of some of the babies was less, simply due to the circumstances of their conception. To summarize, the manner in which a person is conceived does not alter their humanity, dignity, or right to life.
Moral Imperative: Abolish Abortion Now
There is never a moral justification for abortion, just as there is never a moral justification for murdering an innocent adult. The same laws that protect born people should absolutely protect preborn people.
Abortion must be immediately and completely abolished without exception. It is imperative that every level of government fully recognizes and protects the paramount right to life of all human persons from the moment of fertilization to natural death.
For this very reason, Georgia Right to Life is calling for a Personhood Amendment to the Georgia State Constitution. Together we can urge the State Legislature to pass the Personhood Amendment by signing the petition here.
Sources:
Fact Sheet: Reasons for Abortion – Lozier Institute
Reasons U.S. Women Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives | Guttmacher Institute
Javid Ona
Georgia Right to Life
Education Coordinator