Should Women Be Accountable If They Abort?

A bunch of my friends are asking, “Should women be accountable if they abort their children?” This isn’t a sound-bite type of question. Let’s unpack it.

First of all, if the law recognized preborn babies as persons with the human rights afforded all other persons, abortion would be illegal. That “if” is at issue with every election and every legislative session. It is not seen as any more important to some than any other issue. To others, it is a daily concern.

So, let’s look at it from a legal standpoint.

Criminal law is prosecuted by law enforcement. In any other case involving suspicious death, the case is investigated and may be brought to trial. At trial, the judge and jury decide guilt or innocence based on evidence and testimony. The Judge has some leeway in meting out punishment based on a number of variables.

The law is a teacher. Abortion has been obtained without legal repercussions for nearly 50 years in some states. The subject is so exposed. The humanity of the preborn is undeniable. Young people are more pro-life than the prior generation. Society is well able to heal and provide for the needs of women. I think most women would not choose to take the risk if it were illegal.

If abortion is murder, then anyone involved in that murder could be brought up on charges. Pro-life organizations are doing us all a great disservice to suggest that women are never culpable. Their error is even more egregious when they insist that it is unreasonable to prosecute a woman for the premeditated death of her child. Think of the implications for children of other ages.

Some women are coerced, some are duped, some are carefully groomed and manipulated to be unwitting participants, but some know exactly what they are doing and are merciless. Let’s let the judge and jury decide the consequences. Consistency with the law would mean that there are specific violations that carry specific repercussions.

Let’s look at it logically.

If a woman, like my friend’s mom, knows that abortion is illegal, she is more likely to find alternatives, rather than risk imprisonment or other consequences. If abortion is illegal, pregnancy resource centers will still be able to provide for the needs of women with an unplanned pregnancy. Adoption services will help place children. Families and churches will come around and help.

So, if every effort will be made form women facing an unexpected pregnancy and the law states she should not obtain an abortion, should women be accountable if they abort?

Since I am an ordained minister of the Gospel, I must also address the moral aspect of abortion.

This life is temporary. At the end, the Judge will meet each of us independent of every other. We stand alone before Him. Any and all sin will be judged by how we deal with Jesus Christ.

There will need to be a shift in values. I’m not sure if US women will easily regain their rightful dignity, but I hope and pray so. People are created in the image of God, which is exactly why Satan wants to kill all of us. Abortion is one of the ways the devil steals, kills, and destroys.

The natural consequences for women are guilt, shame, remorse, loss, and trauma, among other things like nightmares, difficulty concentrating, poor decision making and self-destructive behaviors. None of these things are universal. Some women suffer horrendously, some have cramps. There are many other significant physical problems as well. None of these things should be a reason to absolve women of culpability across the board. Women are victims of abortion, usually.

God will forgive and heal their pain if they ask Him. He will cleanse us all from all unrighteousness. The Lord heals all of our diseases. He may even provide miracles of extravagant, abounding grace, which I pray for everyone who has had anything to do with abortion. The judgment and the grace are already in place.

The law is a teacher. The law cannot keep anyone from doing anything.

When the speed limit is 65mph, at any time you can see people obeying and disobeying the law. Murder, robbery, child abuse and lots of other crimes happen every day, but that doesn’t make them acceptable. The fact that they are illegal keeps many from doing it by peer pressure, but mostly, it is the general consensus that lets us know that it is not ok.

Abortion has been legal for almost 50 years in some states. That made most people think it is acceptable. It was never acceptable to a Bible believing Christian. But even Bible believing Christians succumbed to abortion in large numbers because the social pressure is so great.

The question is rhetorical today. But there may be a day when there will be restrictions or bans on abortion. This is why we postulate. Should women be accountable if they abort, when the law prohibits abortion?

Women are victims of abortion.

This is often a true statement, but I dare say sometimes it is not. In the same way, extenuating circumstances may award leniency for a thief or clemency for a murderer, there will invariably be the same safeguards for women submitting to abortion.

Also, for women who turn in abortionists, similar to turning in other law offenders, immunity may be an option.

Now, before you get all up in arms about my not having the right to say anything, let me give you a little background on myself. I’m not just some old prude. This is my point of view. A civil society would outlaw abortion and women should be held accountable, if they break the law.

I was conceived by a violent rape, but my mom said we were in it together. So, no. I don’t believe in an exception for rape. I survived years of ritualistic child sexual abuse. So, no. I would not advocate abortion for victims of child sexual abuse. My first child was conceived as a result of sex trafficking. So, no. I do not believe that anyone needs an abortion.

Women feel like their lives will be over when they get pregnant, but it won’t be. I was threatened with my own murder if I didn’t abort. Many women are pressured or threatened similarly. We must extend mercy and compassion.

What do you say? Should women be accountable if they abort? What if it were against the law? Say, at some date of gestation or age of the baby, would you then support some policy of accountability?

Let’s make abortion illegal, rather unthinkable! Let’s respect everyone’s right to live.