Expert: Bill Stephens - 3/8/2010

Question
I have been asked to find specific pro life views in the case of Roe vs. Wade (i.e. I am debating in the perspective of Wade). I would like to know what kind of strong viewpoints there are for pro-life campaigners in the case of rape?

Answer
From the pro-life perspective, I look at it as looking at the life of the unborn, that it has to have the right to continue growing to fruition and to complete the life that has been started.  There can be various reasons why an abortion is sought by an expectant mother (or urged by the biological father or other), and obviously rape is the most harrowing.  The child still deserves his or her chance at life though and should not be penalized/punished due to the details of the conception.  People need to look at the child in the womb as a living being, not just a product that can be completed or done away with, whichever is decided.
Being pro-life can be difficult in cases involving rape, and compassion needs to be expressed for the mothers who are put in that position.  Adoption must be stressed, as many, many parents cannot have children of their own and would accept a baby of their own.  The mother keeping the child of a rape until he or her is born and given up for adoption is doing a noble thing.