Responses to “What About Rape”

Soundbites about the ‘rape exception’ are handy. The subject comes up a lot in my work. So, I have made a list of responses to, “What about rape?”

Of course, we all have to use our own words, but I hope to spark a new thought or two.

Abortion never un-rapes a woman.

Women need counseling and support services after rape.  They are in a crisis situation and in no other crisis situation would we think a woman should be making life or death decisions.

When a woman conceives from rape, there are two victims. As a compassionate society, we strive to protect them both and provide restorative services through our current social services and healthcare.

Woman need time to heal after rape.  They are too often pressured into abortion, which is intrinsically counter-productive.  It is like you’re saying, “Now that we know there are two victims here, we think you should kill the one who cannot defend themself.”  Mothers of rape conceived babies need support, not abortion.

Mothers of rape conceived babies need support, not abortion.

Rape survivors are vulnerable.  They have been violated. Their rights have been abridged. But you are suggesting she should then deny the right to life for a child conceived by rape.  This is an egregious dichotomy.  A pregnant woman is pregnant with her child.  She is the only one who can protect her child.  If people think she should kill her own child and that the act of submitting to abortion will make the pain of rape diminish, you are mistaken.  She will then be complicit in the violation of another person.

A child conceived by rape is as biologically and physically the same as a child conceived with wine and roses.  They all deserve protection.

Women deserve protection after rape.  They need to be nurtured and restored to a place of dignity.  To tell her she should lay on a table and submit to killing her child is and unfair burden.

Abortion is not the answer

The burden of abortion is well known, many women of childbearing age will have had abortions by the time they reach 45 years old.  Many women regret their choice.  Women have an innate sense that they are destroying a living human being and even when they are able to justify that, there are often obvious signs of guilt and trauma.

We live by the Declaration’s clear admonition that we all have a right to life.  Responses to: What about rape? The circumstances of conception should not determine anyone’s right to life.

Pregnancy is always temporary. Abortion is forever.

Women should not be encouraged to make a permanent decision to address a temporary situation.

Rape is tragic.  Abortion is tragic.  Why would anyone want to add tragedy to tragedy?

The child conceived in rape is never the aggressor.  Even the rapist is not subject to the death penalty.  We must care for both victims of rape conception.

Making exceptions in a law that protects one’s right to life, is illogical.  If not all are protected, then none are protected.

No child deserves the death penalty for the crimes of his or her father. A just society punishes the wicked and protects the most vulnerable.

Only elitists think they can decide who should be allowed to live and who should be killed.

Many people, alive today, were conceived by sexual assault. What about them?

Were these helpful?

Do you have more responses to ‘what about rape’ to add?