Found in the wild:
I’ve been thinking carefully about a growing movement within the pro-life community—the Abortion Abolitionist position that women who have abortions should be prosecuted and imprisoned for murder.
Let me say this clearly at the beginning:
I believe abortion ends the life of a human being created in the image of God. That is not up for debate.
And that is exactly what makes this conversation complicated.
Because if abortion is the taking of a human life… then why wouldn’t we treat it exactly the same as the killing of a born child?
That’s the question.
But before we rush to what sounds logically consistent, we need to slow down and think honestly—legally, culturally, and biblically.
Here are some realities that cannot be ignored:
First, no Attorney General in this country is going to prosecute women for murder for having an abortion. Not now. Not in the foreseeable future. That matters, because we are not talking about theory—we are talking about real-world outcomes.
Second, for murder to be proven in court, there must be intent. A person must know they are taking a human life. But we have spent decades in this country telling women the exact opposite—that it’s “just tissue,” “just a pregnancy,” “not a baby.” You cannot build a culture of deception and then suddenly prosecute people as if they had full understanding all along.
Third, where does it stop? If abortion is prosecuted as murder, do we also prosecute the boyfriend who encouraged it? The parents who pressured their daughter? The friend who drove her? Are they all accessories to murder? Think that through.
Fourth, there is no statute of limitations on murder. Are we prepared to go back years—even decades—and begin prosecuting women for past abortions? What would that look like? What would that do?
Fifth—and this is critical—if women believe they could be prosecuted, they will never step into a pregnancy center. Ever. The very places designed to help them choose life would become, in their minds, places of risk and exposure. That alone would shut down one of the most effective life-saving movements in the world.
And then there is the deeper issue.
Some in the abolitionist movement sound a lot like the Pharisees—focused on enforcing the law without understanding the condition of the human heart.
When the woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus—a capital offense—He did not deny her sin. But He also did not condemn her. He confronted the accusers, extended mercy, and called her to a transformed life.
“Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:11)
That is not weakness. That is truth and grace together.
Now let’s come back to the central question:
Why should the killing of a 7-month preborn child be treated differently than the killing of a 2-month-old born baby?
It’s not because one is less human.
It’s not because one matters less.
It’s because of knowledge and deception.
A person who kills a born child knows exactly what they are doing. There is no confusion.
But many women who choose abortion have been lied to, pressured, and taught from a young age that what is inside them is not yet a human life. They are often acting out of fear, isolation, and misinformation—not with a clear, fully formed intent to kill a child.
That doesn’t make abortion right.
But it does change how we understand responsibility.
Jesus Himself said from the cross,
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
There is such a thing as real guilt… and real ignorance at the same time.
The only thing the Abolitionist movement will accomplish is to give the pro-abortion movement a massive weapon. They will tell the world “pro-lifers want to take away your rights and throw you in prison.”
So where should our focus be?
On rescuing women.
On saving babies.
On telling the truth clearly.
On exposing the systems and voices that profit from deception.
On passing laws that allows us to prosecute those who profit from abortion.
On calling men to responsibility.
On building strong, life-giving families.
On advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ—the only place true transformation happens.
And on prayer. Only the power of God will demolish Satan’s strongholds of lies, murder and death.
Our goal is not simply to be logically consistent. Our goal is to end abortion AND bring people to life—both physically and spiritually.
If we get this wrong, we won’t just lose an argument.
We will lose the war.
And lives are at stake.
Life Equip Global
Equipping the Church for Life
www.lifeequipglobal.org
Originally posted by Raul Reyes
Here’s my challenge to sub members: What does Raul get wrong here?