Pro-life
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SchfiftyThree
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/70.95.160.175|70.95.160.175]] ([[User talk:70.95.160.175|talk]]) to last version by Sardanaphalus
{{this|the social movement}}
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'''Pro-life''' is a term representing a variety of perspectives and activist movements in [[bioethics]]. It can be used to indicate opposition to practices such as [[euthanasia]], [[human cloning]], research involving [[embryonic stem cell|human embryonic stem cells]], and the [[death penalty]], but most commonly (especially in the media and popular discourse) to [[abortion]], and support for [[fetal rights]]. The term describes the political and ethical view which maintains that [[fetus]]es and [[embryo]]s are human beings, and therefore have a [[right to live]].
On the issue of abortion, attempts by pro-life campaigners to pass laws against abortion are opposed by [[pro-choice]] campaigners who argue that the central issue is a completely different set of rights: the human rights of the pregnant woman to choose to terminate her pregnancy or carry it to term. The pro-choice view believes that a woman should have complete control over her fertility and pregnancy, and that this entails the guarantee of ''[[reproductive rights]]''.
==Overview==
Pro-life individuals generally believe that human life should be valued either from [[fertilization]] or [[implantation]] until natural death. The contemporary pro-life movement is typically, but not exclusively, associated with [[Christianity|Christian]] [[morality]] (especially in the United States), and has influenced certain strains of bioethical utilitarianism.<ref>Holland, S (2003) ''Bioethics: a Philosophical Introduction''Cambridge, UK : Polity Press; New York : Distributed in the USA by Blackwell Pub</ref> From that viewpoint, any action which destroys an [[embryo]] or [[fetus]] kills a [[human being]]. Any deliberate destruction of human life is considered ethically or morally wrong and is not considered to be mitigated by any alleged benefits to others, as such benefits come at the expense of the life they consider as a person. In some cases, this belief extends to opposing abortion of fetuses that would almost certainly be unviable, such as [[anencephaly|anencephalitic]] fetuses. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are also opposed by some pro-life people based on a belief that all human life is sacred and must be protected even against the wishes of people who want to end their own lives.
Some Pro-lifers oppose certain forms of [[birth control]], particularly [[hormonal contraception]] such as [[Emergency contraception|ECP]]'s, which are alleged to prevent the [[implantation]] of an embryo. Because pro-life advocates largely believe that [[Beginning of pregnancy controversy|personhood begins at conception]], they refer to these forms of birth control with the term "[[abortifacients]]".<ref>{{cite web |last=Finn |first=J.T. |title="Birth Control" Pills cause early Abortions |work=Pro-Life America — Facts on Abortion |publisher=prolife.com |date=2005-04-23 |url=http://www.prolife.com/BIRTHCNT.html |accessdate=2006-08-25 }}<br /></ref> The Catholic Church recognizes this view,<ref>{{cite web |title=Emergency "Contraception"
and Early Abortion |publisher=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops |date=1998-08-01 |url=http://www.nccbuscc.org/prolife/issues/abortion/fact1098.htm |accessdate=2006-08-25}}</ref> but the possibility that [[hormonal contraception]] has post-fertilization effects is currently disputed within the scientific community. (See Also: [[Emergency contraception#Emergency contraception, implantation, and abortion politics|Emergency contraception and implantation]])''
Attachment to a pro-life position is very often but not exclusively connected to religious beliefs about the [[sanctity of life]] (see also [[Culture of Life]]). Exclusively secular-humanist positions against abortion tend to be a minority viewpoint among pro-life advocates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.godlessprolifers.org/home.html |title=Atheist and Agnostic Pro-Life League
Homepage |accessmonthday=November 4 |accessyear=2006 |last=Wallace |first=James Matthew}}</ref>. While this group is a distinct minority, they are a growing and burgeoning movement, and seek to put new meaning into the phrase "pro-life". <ref>[http://www.coalitiontoextendlife.org/news.php Life Extension News and Press Releases<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Diversity of pro-life views==
[[Image:Pro-life protest.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Pro-life activists at the [[March for Life]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] on January 22, 2002.]]
The major stated goal of the pro-life movement is to "restore legal protection to innocent human life."<ref>[http://www.nrlc.org/Missionstatement.htm National Right to Life Mission Statement]</ref> This protection would include fetuses and embryos, persons who cannot communicate their wishes due to physical or mental incapacitation, and those who are too weak to resist being euthanized.
Some pro-life advocates, such as those subscribing to the philosophy of a [[Consistent Life Ethic]], oppose virtually all acts that end human life. They would argue that [[abortion]], euthanasia, capital punishment, and unjust war are all wrong.
Others argue that the death penalty can be a fair punishment for [[murder]], justifiably inflicted by lawful authority, whereas abortion is an attack on innocent human life that could never be considered because it lacks the same due process protections that a criminal trial requires before any imposition of the death penalty. In recent years, the issue of the death penalty has gained more attention because some pro-life advocates wish to create a more unified pro-life ideal that prohibits the death penalty. The [[Roman Catholic Church]] is one of the strongest proponents of this unified position. The increasing attention paid to this controversial position may result from the large Roman Catholic membership of the pro-life movement, a membership that is also striving to adhere to recent religious statements from the Vatican on the death penalty.<ref>[http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/national/deathpenalty/ The Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty], United States Conference of Catholic Bishops</ref>
While some pro-life advocates are opposed to [[euthanasia]] of humans under all circumstances, others believe that individuals, especially adults, should have the right to choose to end their own lives if they become [[terminal illness|terminally ill]] or severely [[disability|disabled]]. Because many such individuals are unable to communicate their wishes, euthanasia will likely remain controversial within the pro-life community. While some believe that ''direct euthanasia'' should only be an option for persons with the ability to communicate at the time of the procedure, others believe that individuals should be allowed to state their wishes in advance, such as in a [[living will]], or that family members and/or persons with [[power of attorney]] or [[guardianship]] should be allowed to make decisions regarding euthanasia for persons who are unable to communicate.
Cessation of [[life support]] for an individual who is unable to live without life support is sometimes referred to as ''indirect'' or ''passive [[euthanasia]].'' Although many pro-life advocates support indirect euthanasia for persons judged by their doctors as having little or no hope for recovery, other pro-life advocates oppose indirect euthanasia, even under those circumstances. Some pro-life advocates strongly disagree with the court decisions which allowed [[Terri Schiavo]]'s husband to have her [[feeding tube]] removed. Indeed, most pro-life advocates familiar with the Terri Schiavo case framed the issue as one of direct euthanasia on the grounds that nutrition and hydration, in their view, do not constitute "life support".<ref>''"Contrary to media reports, Terri did not require life sustaining equipment such as a ventilator. The only thing keeping Terri alive was the same thing that keeps every one of us alive – food and water."'' {{cite web |title=Terri's Story: FAQs |publisher=Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation, Inc.|url=http://www.terrisfight.org/pages.php?page_id=32|accessdate=2008-06-13}}</ref>
In contrast, there are yet others who find that the pro-life movement's focus on legislative means is heading down the wrong track, believing that working through means of [[sex education]], [[birth control]], and aid to single mothers will more realistically reduce abortions while also drawing others into the movement. Rather than causing a political divide by arguing what can and cannot legally be done and what laws should be passed about it, such non-legislative pro-life goals are sought in order to bridge the gap with those who may consider themselves against [[abortion]] but [[pro-choice]], because they cannot agree with passing restrictive laws--whether concerning [[gestation]] or anything else. Two prominent groups holding this ideology are ''Anarchists for Life''--a pro-life [[anarchists]] group--which objects to [[legislation|legislative solutions]] to any problem by definition (since anarchists in general are anti-government)<ref>[http://www.anarchistsforlife.org Anarchists for Life]</ref> and ''Feminists for Life''<ref>[http://www.feministsforlife.org Feminists for Life]</ref>.
Other pro-life views also encompass [[life extension]]. Aging kills about 100,000 people per day and some people such as [[Aubrey de Grey]] advocate research to help sustain their lives<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/health/2005/02/16/hage16.xml&site=13&page=0</ref>. One fundamental tenet of this view is that humans have the right to live as long as they wish to.<ref name="aubrey">[http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/HETHR_bios/degrey/ Our Right to Life]</ref> Some, such as the [[Extropianism|Extropians]], take this to the extreme: they intend to defeat death. <ref>[http://www.futurist.com/archives/society-and-culture/pro-life-a-visit-with-extropians/ Pro-Life! A Visit with Extropians ]</ref> Such people often use the rhetoric of other pro-life advocates (for example referring to aging as "slaughter" <ref>[http://www.slate.com/id/2142987 Cyborgs, self-mutilators, and the future of our race. - By William Saletan - Slate Magazine<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and invoking the phrase "Our Right to Life"). <ref name="aubrey" /> While this group is a distinct minority, they are a growing and burgeoning movement, and seek to put new meaning into the phrase "pro-life". <ref>[http://www.coalitiontoextendlife.org/news.php Life Extension News and Press Releases<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==The debate==
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[[Image:Bytom33.JPG|thumb|250px|A pro-life memorial in [[Bytom]], [[Poland]]. Partial translation: "Dedicated in memory of unborn children – victims of abortion".]]
After more than forty years of debate, the abortion issue remains one of the broader and more controversial societal issues. A broad spectrum of positions exists on this issue, from those who advocate abortion-on-demand at any point during a pregnancy on the one end (100% pro-choice), to those who oppose every form of abortion on the other (100% pro-life). Between these two there is a considerable range of positions. Some oppose abortion, but are content to work at reducing the number of abortions through prevention of unwanted pregnancies, a task they accomplish through encouraging abstinence, targeted [[sex education]] and/or increased availability of [[contraception]]. Current legislation in [[United States Congress]], the [[Pregnant Women Support Act]], seeks to reduce the abortion rate in the U.S. without making any procedure illegal and without overturning [[Roe v. Wade]]. There are also some who support legal abortion within the first two [[trimesters]] but oppose [[late-term abortion]]s. Those who oppose late term abortions usually take the view that once a fetus has reached the point where it could live independently from the pregnant woman, the balance of rights perhaps swings in favour of the fetus. Some oppose most abortions but make exception for cases where the woman's life is in serious risk. In this category, some likewise make an exception for severe [[birth defect|fetal deformities]]. Others make exceptions when the pregnancy was not caused by consensual sexual activity or may violate social taboos, as in cases of [[rape]] and [[incest]]. Some allow for all these exceptions, but stop short of abortion-on-demand.
Another issue is that of mandatory notification and consent. Some believe that a pregnant minor should not be allowed to abort her pregnancy without notifying her parent or guardian because of the risks and possible medical complications. Likewise, some believe that notifying the woman's husband or the child's biological father should be required because of parental rights. The pro-choice movement sees this as an attempt to limit access to abortion. However, among the public, there is much support for these measures. In a 2003 [[Gallup poll]] in the United States, 72% of respondents were in favour of spousal notification, with 26% opposed; of those polled.<ref>[http://people-press.org/commentary/display.php3?AnalysisID=122 Pew Research Centre] "Public Opinion Supports Alito on Spousal Notification Even as It Favors Roe v. Wade"</ref> In many states, such restrictions are mandated by law, though often with the right of judicial oversight.
Generally speaking, the pro-life position regards abortion as a form of [[infanticide]], and thus seeks legal restrictions on abortions. Pro-life advocates typically argue that if a pregnant woman is unable or unwilling to raise the child, there is the option of placing the child up for [[adoption]].
Public opinion is almost evenly split on the issue. Two polls were released in May of 2007 asking Americans "With respect to the abortion issue, would you consider yourself to be pro-choice or pro-life?" May 4th through 6th, a CNN poll found 45% said pro-choice and 50% said pro-life.<ref>{{PDFlink|[http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/images/05/09/rel6e.pdf CNN Opinion Research Poll]|294 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 301409 bytes -->}}, ([[2007-05-09]]). Retrieved [[2007-05-27]].</ref> Within the following week, a Gallup poll found 49% responding pro-choice and 45% pro-life. <ref>[http://www.galluppoll.com/content/default.aspx?ci=1576 "Abortion"] ''The Gallup Poll'' (5/21/2007) Retrieved 2007-05-28.</ref>
<!-- On the other hand, the counter-argument claims that pro-life families have fewer abortions (and more children) than their pro-choice counterparts, and they may pass their beliefs on to their children, thus changing the voter demographic of future generations. In this way, legal abortion-on-demand may ''also'' serve to ''increase'' the dominance of the pro-life position in society. This latter hypothesis has been called the "[[Roe effect]]," and may explain the trend towards more widespread support of the pro-life movement. However, these scenarios are not concurrent with the fact that abortion rates are high in states which traditionally elect pro-life legislators, and low in states which traditionally elect pro-choice legislators.<ref>[http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5212a1.htm CDC data]</ref> Furthermore, polls conducted by the Guttmacher Institute have shown that women from religious denominations that are pro-life are as likely to have abortions as women who are not.<ref>[http://www.guttmacher.org/media/nr/prabort2.html Alan Guttmacher Institute]</ref> -->
==Legal and political aspects==
[[Image:DFLA March.jpg|thumb|left|180px|[[Democrats for Life of America]] demonstrates at the 2006 [[March for Life]].]]
The U.S. Republican Party platform advocates a pro-life position,<ref>[http://www.gop.com/media/2004platform.pdf ''2004 Republican Party Platform: A Safer World and a More Hopeful America''] p. 84</ref> though some Republicans are not pro-life. The Republican group [[The Wish List (political organization)|The Wish List]] supports pro-choice Republican women just as [[EMILY's List]] supports pro-choice Democratic women. The [[Democrats for Life of America]] are a group of pro-life Democrats on the [[Left-wing politics|political left]] who advocate for a pro-life plank in the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]'s platform and for pro-life Democratic candidates. The former vice-presidential candidate [[Sargent Shriver]] and the late [[Robert P. Casey|Robert Casey]], a former two term governor of [[Pennsylvania]], are among the most well-known pro-life Democrats. His son, [[Bob Casey, Jr.]] is now a pro-life Democratic US Senator. There are also Republicans who have taken stances in favor of allowing abortion, such as Senator [[Arlen Specter]] of Pennsylvania, former New York City Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]], current Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]] of New York City and the late former President [[Gerald Ford]].
In many nations, such as [[Canada]], the nations of [[Europe]], [[Australia]], the nations of [[Asia]] and [[Africa]], and the [[U.S.]] there are many on the economic left-wing and [[political centre]] who either have personal disagreements with abortion or who oppose legal abortions outright. Both groups generally consider themselves pro-life.
==Motivations==
Two strands of thoughts can be distinguished within the pro-life movement: religious and secular.
===Religious===
{{main|Religion and abortion}}
====Christianity====
[[Image:BentoXVI-37-10052007.jpg|thumb|right|270px|Two people holding a pro-life sign at a meeting with [[Pope Benedict XVI]] at the [[Estádio do Pacaembu]] in [[São Paulo]], [[Brazil]] in 2007. Translation: "No to abortion". The rest of the crowd have both arms raised in a [[orans|prayer gesture]].]]
[[Image:Monument to the Unborn.jpg|thumb|right|270px|A monument to the unborn in Ste Geneviève, Missouri.]]
Opposition to abortion by some Christians is based on a number of sources. The ''[[Didache]]'', a short [[Early Christianity|early Christian]] treatise, specifically prohibits abortion. The [[Bible]], unlike the ''Didache'', makes no specific mention of abortion, although it does mention unborn life several times. For example, [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 1:44 cites [[Elizabeth (Biblical person)|Elizabeth]] exclaiming to the [[Virgin Mary]], "Behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb ([[John the Baptist]]) leaped for joy". [[Book of Jeremiah|Jeremiah]] 1:4-5, retelling God's appointing of [[Jeremiah]] to be a prophet, says: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you". Such passages have been interpreted to reveal the [[personhood]] of an embryo/fetus.<ref>{{cite web |last=Alcorn |first=Randy |title=Abortion in the Bible and Church History |work= Prolife Answers to Prochoice Arguments |publisher=Eternal Perspective Ministries |date=2002 |url=http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-abortioninthebible.html |accessdate=2007-04-10 }}</ref> While others interpret these verses to be centrally focus instead on the special significance of Jeremiah as a prophet and maintain that they have no relevance to claims that the fetus is a person. [http://www.elroy.net/ehr/abortion.html]
The Catholic Church teaches that "abortion is a grave sin against the natural law."<ref>[http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19741118_declaration-abortion_en.html Declaration on Procured Abortion], Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith</ref> It believes that human life is sacred, and begins at conception. Under this view, abortion is equivalent to murder, and there are no permissible exceptions. When the life of the woman is in jeopardy, it is permissible to obtain life-saving treatment which may have the secondary effect of killing the fetus, but no direct action may be taken against the fetus/embryo itself, and all life-sustaining options must be exhausted. (An example is chemotherapy treatment for a pregnant woman with uterine cancer.) It also ascribes to a Consistent Life Ethic: [[euthanasia]], the [[death penalty]], unjust war, embryo research, ''in vitro'' fertilization (which involves discarded embryos), artificial contraception (of which some methods may prevent implantation of a [[zygote]] in the uterine lining), and abortion are all condemned as violence. Church law provides that anyone who directly participates in an abortion is automatically [[excommunicate]]d (provided they are aware of this penalty at the time of the act).<ref>[http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/abortio2.htm EWTN Expert Answers explanation of automatic excommunication penalty for procuring an abortion].</ref> A valid [[sacrament]]al [[confession]] remits this penalty. In accord with its opposition to abortion, the Catholic Church provides support to pregnant women in "crisis pregnancies," as well as to low income families.
Other Christian denominations hold varying positions on abortion. Conservative, [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]], or [[fundamentalist]] Christian groups are more likely to oppose abortion, whereas liberal or mainstream Protestant churches are more likely to allow for it. "[[Mainstream]]" [[Protestant]] denominations (e.g. the [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopalian]] church, Church Of England, [[Presbyterian]] church, [[Methodist]] church, [[United Church of Christ]], [[Unitarian Universalist]] church, and the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of America]]), as well as [[Jewish]] denominations and the group [[Catholics for a Free Choice]] have formed the [[Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice]].<ref>http://www.rcrc.org/about/members.cfm Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice - Members</ref>
The [[Christian Alliance for Progress]], most notably, has come out in opposition of abortion, but has advocated a program of assistance and prevention as opposed to the criminalization of abortion, opposes the death penalty, but maintains a neutral stance on euthanasia.
====Hinduism====
While Hinduism does not take the explicit anti-abortion stance that most Christian groups do, Hinduism teaches that murder is a great crime and one of the worst possible sins. Hindu teachings recognize a fetus as a living, conscious person deserving of protection. Also, according to Hindu Mythology, there are 16 Samskaarams or Sanskaars during the life cycle of an individual (Soul) which starts pre-birth at Garbhadhaan (Conception), thereby denoting that life is considered to begin at conception itself. One of the seven legendary immortals or [[Chiranjeevin]] in Hinduism, Ashwatthama, was cursed by Lord [[Krishna]], avatar of [[Vishnu]] to immortality and eternal suffering partly for attacking a pregnant woman so she would miscarry her fetus (later born as Parikshit, grandson of [[Arjuna]]) when he was in his mother's womb. Parakashit was stillborn, but was raised from the dead by Sri Krishna.<ref>[http://www.indianest.com/hinduism/036.htm indianest.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.hinduism-today.com/archives/1998/10/1998-10-25.shtml hinduism-today.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.chennaionline.com/festivalsnreligion/religion/bala.asp chennaionline.com]</ref>
====Islam====
Islamic opposition is based on the concept that abortion is considered murder if done 120 days after conception and disfigurement of the woman's body if done before. According to a hadith ([[Sahih Bukhari]] 54:430 and 55:549, [[Sahih Muslim]] 33:6390), the fetus is not considered alive until the 120th day after conception<ref>[http://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=33&translator=2 SearchTruth.com - Hadith Books] - site visited on 6th November 2007</ref>. Islam does provide for some exceptions where abortion is permissible, such as when the woman's life is in jeopardy, repeated pregnancies severely damage her health, or rape<ref>[http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=12&ID=270&CATE=87 Sunnipath.com - Scholarly Response] - site visited on 6th November 2007</ref>.
====Judaism====
Jews are considerably divided in terms of life issues. Adherents to [[Orthodox Judaism]] are particularly stringent in these matters, as Judaism stresses the sanctity of life above virtually all other considerations. (Commandments for which one must accept death rather than violate include only [[murder]], [[idolatry]]/[[apostasy]], and [[Religion and Sexuality|forbidden sexual relations]].) According to [[halakha]] (Jewish law) abortion is prohibited once 40 days have passed since conception. Before 40 days have passed, most [[posek|poskim]] (Jewish legal decisors) still generally prohibit abortion, though this interval is considered a period of lenience.{{fact|date=March 2008}} According to the [[Talmud]] the embryo is considered to be ''mere water''. [[Rashi]] stated that the fetus is not a person <ref> [http://www.religioustolerance.org/jud_abor.htm Jewish Beliefs on Abortion] </ref>. If a pregnancy threatens the life of the woman, all agree that the fetus ''must'' be aborted in order to save the woman's life.<ref>[[Mishnah]], [[Oholot]] 7:7</ref>
Other denominations of Judaism ([[Reform Judaism|Reform]], [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]], etc.) espouse more liberal interpretations of the traditional texts, or often reject them outright as irrelevant or outdated. Consequently, adherents to these movements often take a more liberal stance on abortion issues.
===Secular===
Some pro-life individuals hold no religious convictions, and rely upon non-religious sources to base their arguments. Even some of those who ''are'' religious have used non-religious justifications when making public policy arguments, including some prominent pro-life politicians (for example, U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. President Ronald W. Reagan on abortion |publisher=Priests for Life |url=http://www.priestsforlife.org/government/reaganabortionquotes.htm |accessdate=2007-01-04}}</ref> and George W. Bush,<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. President George W. Bush on abortion |publisher=Columbia Commonwealth University |url=http://www.issues2000.org/2004/George_W__Bush_Abortion.htm |accessdate=2007-01-04}}</ref> and U.S. Senator Sam Brownback<ref>{{cite web |title=Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation, Revisited |publisher=The Human Life Review |url=http://www.priestsforlife.org/government/brownback00-04-08abortionconsciencenation.pdf |accessdate=2007-01-11}}</ref>). One of the more prominent secular pro-life advocates is [[Nat Hentoff]] of the [[Village Voice]].
Many disciplines of philosophy may be implemented in the formation of a secular pro-life viewpoint. Some make use of [[natural law]] theory, which would emphasize the primacy of the right-to-life as the most fundamental human right guaranteed by law.
Biologically speaking, the zygote created at [[fertilization]] possesses a unique [[genome]] of human [[DNA]], a unique blood type, and all other essential biological manifestations of a [[Life#A conventional definition|living organism]] (although, in the case of identical twins, that uniqueness is not preserved). Pro-life advocates assert that this constitutes membership in the human species and personhood, and therefore conclude that the deliberate harming of human embryos and fetuses is morally objectionable. Other pro-life arguments may hold that destruction of human embryos and fetuses constitutes discrimination against them, based on their stage of development.
== Term controversy ==
Both "pro-choice" and "pro-life" are examples of [[framing (social sciences)|political framing]]: they are terms which purposely try to define their philosophies in the best possible light, while by definition attempting to describe their opposition in the worst possible light. "Pro-choice" implies the alternative viewpoint is "anti-choice", while "pro-life" implies the alternative viewpoint is "pro-death" or "anti-life." Similarly each side's use of the term "rights" ("reproductive rights", "right to life of the unborn") implies a validity in their stance, given that the presumption in language is that rights<ref>In liberal democracies, a ''right'' is seen as something the state and civil society must defend, whether ''human rights'', ''victims' rights'', ''children's rights'', etc. Many states use the word ''rights'' in fundamental laws and constitutions to define basic civil principles; both the United Kingdom and the United States possess a ''Bill of Rights''.</ref> are inherently a good thing and so implies an invalidity in the viewpoint of their opponents.
Pro-life and pro-choice individuals often use [[political framing]] to convey their perspective on the issues, and in some cases, to discredit opposing views. Pro-life advocates tend to use terms such as "unborn baby," "unborn child," or "pre-born child"<ref>Chamberlain, Pam and Jean Hardisty. (2007) [http://www.publiceye.org/magazine/v14n1/ReproPatriarch-07.html "The Importance of the Political 'Framing' of Abortion"]. ''The Public Eye Magazine'' Vol. 14, No. 1. Retrieved January 18, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/05/weekinreview/05greenhouse.html?scp=1&sq=infanticide "The Roberts Court Takes on Abortion".] ''New York Times.'' November 5, 2006. Retrieved January 18, 2008.</ref>
==Activism ==
{{Refimprove|date=May 2007}}
'''Pro-life activism''' involves a variety of activities, from promoting the pro-life position to the public in general, lobbying public officials, or reaching individuals - for example by attempting to dissuade individual women to forgo abortions. Some efforts involve distributing literature, providing counseling services, conducting public demonstrations or protests, and committing acts of [[civil disobedience]].
===Types of activism===
[[Image:Prolife-DC.JPG|thumb|270px|Pro-life protesters make a silent demonstration in front of the [[United States]] [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]]]
*'''Free ultrasound:''' One type of pro-life activism is giving free [[ultrasound]] scans to pregnant women who are considering an abortion. These usually take place at a [[crisis pregnancy center]]. The theory behind this practice is the belief that the pregnant woman will decide to carry to term once she views images of the [[fetus]]. In the US, federal funding is provided for crisis pregnancy centers, many of which provide free ultrasounds.<ref>{{PDFlink|[http://oversight.house.gov/Documents/20060717101140-30092.pdf]|106 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 109237 bytes -->}}</ref><ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/21/AR2006032101723.html Grants Flow To Bush Allies On Social Issues - washingtonpost.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*'''The [[Life Chain|life chain]]:''' The "Life Chain" is a public demonstration technique that involves simply standing in a row on sidewalks holding signs with pro-life messages. Historically, the most often used message has been "Abortion Kills Children" but other signs have been produced for use by Life Chainers that include, "Abortion stops a beating heart," "Abortion Hurts Women," "I'm a child, not a choice," "God Heal Our Land," "God Bless America," "Jesus Forgives and Heals," "Jesus Loves the Little Children" and "Jesus Loves You." Life Chainers, as an official policy, do not yell or chant slogans and do not block pedestrians or roadways. This type of demonstration is extremely common, but some pro-life demonstrators question the effectiveness of this tactic. Many [[Right to Life]] chapters hold Life Chain events yearly.{{Facts|date=May 2007}}
*'''The rescue''': A "rescue operation" involves pro-life activists standing in front of an [[abortion clinic]] in order to prevent anyone from entering. The stated goal of this practice is to force the clinic to shut down for the day. Often, the protesters are removed by law enforcement. Some clinics were protested so heavily in this fashion that they closed down permanently. "The rescue" was first attempted by [[Operation Rescue]]. Ever since former president [[Bill Clinton]] signed the [[Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act]] into law, the rescue has rarely been attempted. Some consider it "peaceful [[civil disobedience]]" but others fear that the openly confrontational nature of rescue operations may inflame an already touchy situation to violence.
*'''The die-in''': is a variation of a protest by the same name which was first done to protest the [[Vietnam War]]. In the pro-life die-in, protesters fall to the ground in the [[fetal]] position. Often this is used to gain attention, in order for groups to distribute literature, and engage in conversation with the onlookers. Those on the ground do not move, hand out literature, or talk. Very few groups use this tactic, however [[Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust]] frequently use this method. {{Fact|date=February 2007}}
[[Image:Prolifevan.jpg |right|thumb|270px| A pro-life van parked outside of an [[abortion clinic]].]]
*'''The truth display''': In a "truth display", protesters go to an area intending to display pictures of aborted fetuses. Though this sparks anger and controversy, some pro-life groups believe this is the most effective way of explaining their position. The members of one group based out of [[Riverside, California]], known as [[Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust]], have been jailed numerous times for these types of displays which they set up both legally and illegally on [[university]] campuses. [[Pro-Life Action League's]] ''Face the Truth'' displays are another example of a "truth display."
A point of disagreement among pro-lifers is whether displaying shock pictures is really necessary.<ref>Pavone, Frank A.[http://www.priestsforlife.org/articles/shouldweuse.htm "Should We Use Graphic Images?"] ''Priests for Life'' Retrieved September 7, 2007. Quote: "Even among those who oppose abortion, answers to this question [Should we use graphic images?] vary"</ref> Though many believe in the truthfulness of "truth displays", many feel that it is sufficient to display informative images of perfectly healthy fetuses in order to demonstrate their [[human race|humanity]], not their suffering. Proponents of these "shock tactics" argue that, unless people realize the precise nature of abortion methods/procedures and their tangible results, the pro-life position can never succeed.
*'''[[Sidewalk counseling]]''': "Sidewalk counseling" is a form of pro-life activism which is conducted outside of [[abortion clinic]]s. Activists seek to communicate with those entering the building, or with passersby in general, in an effort to persuade them not to have an [[abortion]] or to reconsider their position on the [[abortion debate|morality of abortion]]. <ref name="hillvcolorado">[http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/98-1856.ZO.html#FN2 Hill v. Colorado (98-1856) 530 U.S. 703 (2000)]. Retrieved December 13, 2006.</ref> They do so by trying to engage in conversation, displaying signs, distributing [[Pamphlet|literature]], or giving directions to a nearby [[crisis pregnancy center]]. <ref name="hillvcolorado" /> <p>The "Chicago Method" is an approach to sidewalk counseling that involves giving those about to enter an abortion facility copies of [[lawsuit]]s filed against the facility or its [[physician]]s. The name comes from the fact that it was first used by [[Pro-Life Action League]] in [[Chicago]].<ref>[http://www.prolifeaction.org/news/2002v21n2/controversy.htm "Controversy in the Activist Movement", ''Pro-Life Action News'', August 2000]</ref> The intent of the Chicago Method is to turn the woman away from a facility that the protesters deem "unsafe," thus giving her time to reconsider her choice to abort.<ref>[http://www.priestsforlife.org/articles/chicagomethod.html "The "Chicago Method": Sidewalk Counseling that appeals to the Mother's concerns for her own well-being," Priests for Life]</ref>
=== Violence as a form of activism ===
{{main|Abortion-related violence}}
Violent incidents directed against abortion providers range from the [[arson]] and [[bomb]]ings of [[abortion clinic]]s, as committed by [[Eric Rudolph]], to the [[murder]]s or [[attempted murder]]s of physicians and clinic staff, as committed by [[James Charles Kopp|James Kopp]]. G. Davidson Smith of the [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]] (CSIS) defined abortion extremist, [[animal rights]], and [[eco-terrorism|environmentalism-related]] violence as "single issue terrorism".<ref>[http://www.csis-scrs.gc.ca/en/publications/commentary/com74.asp Single Issue Terrorism]</ref> Actual acts of violence against abortion providers and facilities in North America have largely subsided following a peak in the mid-1990s.<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/abo_viol.htm Violence at US Abortion Clinics]</ref> The National Clinic Violence Survey, conducted by the pro-choice [[Feminist Majority Foundation]], reports that severe violence now affects only 18.4% of abortion providers and facilities {{PDFlink|([http://www.feminist.org/research/cvsurveys/clinic_survey2005.pdf 2005]|80.4 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 82391 bytes -->}} figures), a figure lower than at any time since 1994.
In North America, the most recent act of violence against an abortion provider that resulted in bodily injury was on July 11, 2000, in [[Vancouver, British Columbia]] in Canada, when Dr. Garson Romalis was stabbed in the back in the lobby area of the building where he worked; the most recent act of criminal damage against an abortion provider in North America was an arson at an abortion clinic in [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]] on [[May 9]], [[2007]]. <ref>"[http://www.wtkr.com/Global/story.asp?S=6492086 Planned Parenthood Arson]." (May 12, 2007). ''WKTR.com.'' Retrieved May 14, 2007.</ref>; and the most recent act of criminal damage by a pro-life extremist was an attempted suicide car bombing on the Edgerton Women's Health Center in Davenport, Iowa, on September 11, 2006 (the center did not provide abortions, but the perpetrator, David Robert McMenemy, apparently believed it did).<ref>[http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060912/NEWS/60912022/1001/NEWS Man rams car into women's clinic in Davenport]</ref>
The vast majority of pro-life advocates, as well as virtually all mainstream pro-life organizations reject all such violence , rejecting the use of [[homicide]] to oppose abortion,<ref>[[Fr. Thomas J. Euteneuer|Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer]], President, [[Human Life International]] (HLI), 2006: "For one thing, no one who is pro-life kills anyone. So those who have killed abortionists or bombed abortion clinics may be anti-abortion, but they are certainly not pro-life. No pro-life organization that I know of, and certainly not Human Life International, condones or advocates violence against any person. To do so would go against our pro-life beliefs. All human life is precious... without exception."</ref> on the basis of the belief that both qualify as [[murder]]. They also believe that such violence will only hurt their cause. They rely upon other forms of [[activism]] like [[picketing]] and [[vigil]]s, as well as legal and political action. The [[American Life League]] has issued a "Pro-life Proclamation Against Violence."<ref>[http://www.all.org/article.php?id=10357 Pro-life proclamation against violence]</ref>
Statistics from the National Abortion Federation<ref name="naf">{{cite web |url=http://www.prochoice.org/pubs_research/publications/downloads/about_abortion/violence_statistics.pdf |title=NAF Violence and Disruption Statistics |format=PDF |accessdate=2006-11-09 |publisher=National Abortion Federation}}</ref> show that violence against abortion clinics or providers has decreased steadily since a peak in 2001. However, the majority of the health-care facilities that perform abortions in the United States experience protests from pro-life demonstrators every year, of which the most common form is picketing.<ref name="crlp">{{cite web |url=http://www.crlp.org/st_clinic_picketing.html |title=Picketing and Harassment |accessdate=2006-11-09 |publisher=Center for Reproductive Rights}}</ref> Most clinics that perform abortions experience picketing at least 20 times a year<ref name="crlp" />: in 2005, 13,416 incidents of disruptive picketing were reported.<ref name="naf" />
== See also ==
{{wiktionary}}
{{Commonscat|Pro-life movement}}
*[[Consistent Life Ethic]]
*[[Crisis pregnancy center]]
*[[Culture of life]]
*[[Pro-choice]]
*[[Natalism]], or pro-birth
*[[Pro-life feminism]]
*[[Roe v. Wade]]
*[[:Category:Pro-life organizations|Pro-life organizations]]
*[[Right to life]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
''For a list of groups opposed to the pro-life position, see [[Pro-choice]].''
*Pro-life organizations and issues
** [http://www.abortionfacts.com AbortionFacts.com] (abortion)
** [http://prolife.liberals.com/ LeftOut (pro-life liberals/progressives)] (abortion)
** [http://www.prolifeaction.org/ Pro-Life Action League] (abortion, contraception)
** [http://www.votelifecanada.ca/ Vote Life, Canada!] (abortion)
*Pro-life religious organizations
** [http://www.all-creatures.org/murti/index.html Hindu Perspective for Life]
** [http://www.jewsforlife.org/ Jews for Life]
** [http://www.prolifequakers.org Friends Witness for a Prolife Peace Testimony (Quakers)]
** [http://www.tldm.org/directives/d23.htm Our Lady of the Roses]
*Pro-life secular organizations
** [http://www.godlessprolifers.org Atheist and Agnostic Pro-Life League]
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