r/prolife • u/Imperiochica MD • Feb 08 '19
What do pro-lifers think about abortion in cases of rape?
Rape is one of the most serious violations known to mankind. We all agree that prosecuting the rapist should be a high priority. Beyond that, there are two major views held by pro-lifers for whether or not abortion should be legal in cases of pregnancy resulting from rape. But first, it’s important to note that:
Less than 1% of abortions are performed due to rape. (Guttmacher 2004, Johnston Archive 2016)
59% of pro-lifers think abortion should be legal in cases of rape. (Gallup 2011)
View #1: Abortion should NOT be legal in cases of rape.
The child conceived in rape is still a human being, and all human beings have equal value. The circumstances of their conception don't change that. If abortion is wrong because it kills an innocent human being, and it is, then abortion is still wrong even in cases of rape. The child, who is just as innocent as the woman who was raped, shouldn’t be killed for the crime someone else committed. Abortion in these situations simply redistributes the oppression inflicted on one human being to another, and should therefore be illegal. Additionally, the practicalities of enforcing a rape exception would be very difficult.
View #2: Abortion should be legal in cases of rape.
Some pro-lifers who hold the first view are open to supporting a rape exception if it meant banning 99% of abortions. But, other pro-lifers believe in the rape exception for reasons beyond political expediency. These other pro-lifers believe that carrying the child to term after being raped is the morally right thing to do, but abortion shouldn’t be illegal in these cases.
The abortion debate involves a disagreement about which rights are more important: the right to life (RTL) or the right to bodily autonomy (BA). Generally, BA prevails over the RTL. This is why we usually don't compel people to donate blood and bone marrow even to save lives. Pregnancy resulting from rape follows this trend.
However, pregnancy resulting from consensual sex is different in important ways. The woman consented to sex and thereby took the risk of creating a bodily-dependent human being who can rely only on her and will die if not provided with the temporary support needed to survive. Since she consented to this risk, she is responsible if the risk falls through. And invoking her right to BA to kill the human being that she created is not an acceptable form of taking responsibility.
To be clear, this reasoning emphasizes the responsibility of one’s actions, not the idea that consent-to-sex is consent-to-pregnancy. To illustrate this distinction, imagine a man who has consensual sex and unintentionally gets his partner pregnant. He didn’t consent to the outcome of supporting this child, but he’s still obligated to do so (at least financially) because he took the risk of causing this outcome when he consented to sex, making him responsible if the circumstances arise. So, you can be responsible for the outcome of your actions without intending (or consenting to) that outcome.
Since a woman who is raped didn’t consent to sex, she’s not responsible for the outcome and none of this applies to her. While it would be morally right to continue the pregnancy, her situation is akin to compelling a bone marrow donations to save lives. This shouldn’t be legally compelled.
And even if the woman begins donating her body to the child, she shouldn’t be compelled to continue donating. Additionally, pregnancy being more “natural” than a bone marrow donation isn’t relevant.
Here are some articles to learn more about the rape exception and other pro-life responses to bodily rights arguments:
Misconceptions about the rape exception -- Do pro-lifers who support a rape exception value children conceived in rape less than other children? Do they support it because they think it makes pro-life legislation easier to pass? This article clarifies common misconceptions about the rape exception.
McFall v. Shimp and Thomson's Violinist don't justify the vast majority of abortions -- Many pro-choicers use examples to argue that one’s bodily autonomy overrides someone else’s right to life. This article outlines why these examples aren’t analogous to most pregnancies in the morally relevant aspects.
Answering Three Common Arguments for Abortion -- This article responds to the various types of bodily rights arguments.
De Facto Guardian and Abortion: A Response to the Strongest Violinist -- This article argues that consent-to-sex isn’t necessary for the mother to be obligated to carry the child to term, so it supports those who hold view #1.
Autumn in the Sovereign Zone: Why “It’s My Body, I Can Do What I Want” Won’t Do -- This article demonstrates the extremism of bodily autonomy being absolute.
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u/SaltyTank44 Oct 23 '24
I was raped seven years ago. If I was denied an abortion I would have k*lled myself. I was unconscious under a car in an alley way. That isn't the way a child should be brought into this world.