Most of my adult life I believed that as a conservative Christian I was an advocate of the “Pro-Life Position”.  Yet like Herman Cain, I came to realize that I was personally “pro-life” but did not want to force that upon others as a matter of law.  I just wanted others to choose what I thought that I might choose, given the same context.  Confusing, right?

This dilemma is well demonstrated by the differences between Gov. Romney and Congressman Ryan (assuming that it is appropriate to assign any particular position to Gov. Romney).

Gov. Romney’s most recent (I think) position is presented in an ad currently running wherein a female supporter explains that Mr. Romney actually believes that  “abortion should be an option in cases of rape, incest or to save a mother’s life.”

Ryan, on the other hand, agrees with US Representative Todd Akin and senatorial candidate Richard Mourdock, whose positions are (respectively):

“I recognize that abortion, and particularly in the case of rape, is a very emotionally charged issue.  But I believe deeply in the protection of all life and I do not believe that harming another innocent victim is the right course of action. Todd Akin

“I’ve struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from God. And even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it [life] is something that God intended to happen.”  Richard Mourdock

“I’m very proud of my pro-life record, and I’ve always adopted the idea that, the position that the method of conception doesn’t change the definition of life.” Paul Ryan

For many years now pro-life adherents have painted pro-choice advocates as “pro abortion”, as if there were only two positions possible.

Yet Mr. Romney currently is clearly advocating a third position, as explained by Paul Ryan:

“Mitt Romney, has exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother, which is a vast improvement of where we are right now.”

Clearly this is a third position, as is obvious in that it does not consider the exceptional abortions to be murders of the unborn, which the pro-life “life at conception” view demands.

Although Mr. Romney’s position is subject to change at any moment, he has diverged from the pure pro-life view, and has moved into the realm of choice.  A rape victim (or incest victim, for that matter) still has to decide for or against carrying the newly discovered pregnancy to term — and that is clearly a pro-choice position.

The “person-hood” legislation sponsored by Paul Ryan and Todd Akin (and in concept,  formerly supported by Mitt Romney)  states that:

(A) the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being, and is the paramount and most fundamental right of a person; and

(B) the life of each human being begins with fertilization, cloning, or its functional equivalent, irrespective of sex, health, function or disability, defect, stage of biological development, or condition of dependency, at which time every human being shall have all the legal and constitutional attributes and privileges of personhood; Sanctity of Human Life Act

The view is an effort to assign personhood (with all attending rights and privileges) to conception.  Yet clearly the concept of prospective personhood is the most that can be argued for the joining of two microscopic cells.

The official Catholic view makes little ethical distinction between abortion and contraception.  This view equates abortion and contraception as an attack on prospective personhood and essentially equates both with murder:

The two principal causes of the Culture of Death are abortion and contraception. Abortion means death to the unborn. Contraception has been described as “creeping death.” It is of paramount importance to assess the relationship between these two killers of society and souls to formulate plans and strategies to promote the Culture of life. — from Contraception Versus Abortion Msgr. Vincent Foy, PhD.

It seems to me that a true pro-choice position (not the one often stereotyped as pro-abortion) takes several things in to account which the “personhood approaches” cannot.

1. That fertilization and pregnancy are not the same thing, therefore only some type of “personhood in prospect” approach (as in Roman Catholicism)  can equate personhood and fertilization.
2. That there is no clear medical understanding as to when true personhood is to be established.
3. That one’s understanding is largely dependent upon religious dogma or personal spiritual insight, neither of which can be legislated by constitutional amendments or government policy.
4. That the criminalization of abortion will not stop it, only drive it underground, forcing personal decisions into the realm of the illegal.
5. That those women who decide to continue their pregnancies to term are, in fact, choosing to do so.
6. That Christians must treat with dignity people who make choices they might not agree with.

Furthermore, it seems to me that Mr. Romney’s  choice in only a few exceptions approach  is too narrow as a matter of legislation.

In many Latin American countries Roman Catholic dogma has been codified into civil law, in some cases not unlike Sharia law in the Muslim nations.  Consider the experience of an Argentine woman who had been kidnapped, forced to work in a prostitution ring and raped, and  who finally received permission to terminate her pregnancy by taking her case to the Supreme Court.

Argentine law allows abortion in cases of rape or when the woman’s life is in danger, but a lower-court, anti-abortion judge had insisted—in spite of everything the 32-year-old woman had gone through—that there was no proof of a rape. In fact, the supreme court said that the lower court judge, Miriam Rustan de Estrada, had helped leak the woman’s identity and whereabouts to anti-abortion protesters, so they could demonstrate in front of her home shouting, “Murderer!”
Where Abortion is a Crime Worse than Rape! Time Magazine Online

My commitment to Jesus as Teacher, Savior, and Lord does not require that I have a quick, simple answer for all of life’s ethical issues, but rather that I embrace humankind with respect and understanding, as God works through and in addition to my efforts.

For far too many Christians, politics and “evangelism by legislation” has replaced simple Jesus-style Christianity.