Misam Abidi on Abortion

Pro-life, but also pro-mother, pro-child, and pro-family

A: I am pro-life, but being pro-life must mean far more than telling a woman what she cannot do. We must respect whatever fear, trauma, pressure, or financial uncertainty she may be experiencing and provide compassionate, non-coercive counseling that explains every option available to her.

If government asks a woman to continue a healthy pregnancy, then government assumes a moral responsibility not to abandon her after making that request.

A truly pro-life government must be pro-mother, pro-child, and pro-family. We should create such a strong circle of care around a woman that choosing life feels secure, supported, and beautiful rather than frightening or impossible. Clear exceptions must remain for serious medical emergencies, rape, incest, and pregnancies that cannot result in a viable birth, with doctors able to protect their patients without fear of prosecution.