~Voting against those who support abortion
~Voting against those who would support gay marriage
~Voting for those who would protect "religious freedom" (specifically, the ability of the Roman Catholic Church to say that any person covered by Catholic insurance would have no access to coverage for birth control or abortion procedures)
Leaving aside the third of these for the moment, I'd like to look at the first two. The claim made by at least two Roman Catholic U.S. bishops (please see the Commonweal article for direct quotes) is that abortion and gay marriage are intrinsically evil, and therefore to vote for them is to be complicit in intrinsic evil.
If you know me or any of my friends, you know well that I support LGBTQ people in their right to pursue romance and marriage with the same rights and dignity that straight couples have. To call gay marriage intrinsically evil is, I would argue, intrinsically evil.
But what of abortion?
I look at my newly pregnant belly and am literally terrified at the thought that something might go wrong. Having an abortion--in order to save my own life, for example--would be beyond devastating. It would crush me.
I am in a place of great privilege in that I am married to a wonderful, warm, loving husband who happens to be an amazing and dedicated father. Our shared income allows the coming of this second kidlet to be only a little scary financially speaking, at least for now. Even though we definitely weren't planning on having another one right now, we can without fear of our family situation falling to pieces.
Suppose I were a woman of no means, with no partner, no family, no support? Suppose I were raped, or suppose I believed in the promises of a liar and ended up pregnant and supportless?
Suppose I couldn't stand the thought of abortion, and didn't see any other way but abortion?
Or suppose I were taking birth control and it didn't work, and to be pregnant and/or to have a child would destroy my life?
Suppose it were you in desperate, unexpected, unwanted circumstances, and you had to make a choice like this.
I invite you, in your considered opinion, according to your well-developed conscience, to answer the following question:
But I want to hear from those of you who have faced or may in the future face pregnancy, either as a woman or as the partner of one. Is abortion always and in every case a grave evil? Is abortion ever a grave evil?
I will post more on my thoughts on the issue after you all have had a chance to respond. If you would like to add more, either by name or anonymously, feel free to post in the comments below.
(Of course, please note that any form of malicious, bullying, or otherwise inappropriate commentary will be deleted immediately. Bullies have no welcome here.)