With the 5-4 decision1 of the Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood, ripples are being felt in America and in the Pro-Life movement. For the first time since 1973, America has the opportunity to be from the shackles of abortion. While the last 50 years have seen incredible progress made in reducing the practice of abortion, it was always just that: reducing the effects. Now we are on the cusp of making real progress to fulfill the promise of being the post-roe generation. This is only the beginning of the end.
If the slogan “my body, my choice” defined America under Roe, then I believe that “No Longer Silent” will shape the coming post-roe America. If radical women, pushing for abortion on demand drove the public conversation in the past, then it will be the courage of strong men that drives the future. “No Longer Silent” will be the rallying cry of men all across the country.
No Longer Silent
We know what “my body, my choice” means and what it produces. The last 50 years of “safe, legal, and rare” abortion have resulted in 64 million children murdered and broken our culture.
But what does “No Longer Silent” mean? It is a call to action that starts as a personal commitment. “No Longer Silent” is advocating for our pre-born sons and daughters, encouraging other men to step up and defend life, and starting the conversation about men’s healing. The saying stems directly from a difficult reality of the pro-life debate, the absence of men. Our exclusion, either directly by pro-choice advocates or indirectly by some in the pro-life movement, has left men voiceless and with no responsibility. The pro-life movement makes the point, rightly so, that at the moment of conception the woman becomes a mother to the child inside of her. But if conception makes a woman a mother with a duty to her child then so too does it make a man, a father. Seeing as pregnancy causes both motherhood and fatherhood, then both men and women must stand together in opposition to the very act that robs them of their child and their dignity as parents.
Men have one of the most important roles as fathers, providers, and protectors. 38% of women2 report that the man that got them pregnant is the number one factor in her decision to keep or abort her child. It should be obvious that with more strong, virtuous men willing to support women, the choice to abort a child could become unthinkable. See, the pro-choice lobby controlling the rhetorical fabric of the debate has resulted in women believing that they are alone. Women are alone in dealing with the pregnancy, they are alone in their choice of abortion, they are alone if they keep their child. Once again a clear result of “my body, my choice”. Yet, this is simply not true as the father, and ultimately the community has a responsibility to her and her child.
Pro-Life men must shoulder the responsibility of the Pro-Life Movement in the coming years. The overturning of Roe marks a shifting in the momentum towards life. Yet, if we let up now all progress could be lost. One look at the news out of Kansas3 will show that the Supreme Court cannot win every pro-life battle. The Pro-Life Movement will continue to fight for the rights of unborn children, but victory and an end to abortion will take men who are willing to step up and stand out. Men who are No Longer Silent
St. Joseph, Protector of the Child Jesus,
Pray For Us
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/19-1392_6j37.pdf (Here is the actual text of the decision, give it a read!)
Lifeway Research (2015, November). Care Net Study of Women who have had an abortion and their views on the church (Rep.). Retrieved December 2, 2016, from http://www.lifewayresearch.com/files/2015/11/Care-Net-Final-Presentation-Report-Revised.pdf
The “Value Them Both” amendment which would have banned all abortion in the state of Kansas was defeated at the ballot box in early August. Read more at https://catholicvote.org/kansas-pro-life-amendment-fails/
What makes this post doubly powerful is that I know you aren’t just talking the talk, but are willing to walk with men on this journey. Excellent writing.
Liam,
Very insightful article that you have written! No doubt that the Heavenly Family revels gaily as Dobbs v. Jackson happened on the Feast of the Sacred Heart.
I agree with all the points that you mentioned, but I also am curious on how you would propose having non-caricatured and edifying dialogue with pro-abortion activists as pro-life men.
In Christ,
Matt