Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
History and Religion
“Pro-Choice” / “Anti-Abortion” & Inaccurate Definitions

“Pro-Choice” / “Anti-Abortion” & Inaccurate Definitions

Last updated on: May 19, 2019 at 12:35 pm by Dave Armstrong

“Pro-Choice” / “Anti-Abortion” & Inaccurate Definitions 2019-05-19T12:35:52-04:00 Dave Armstrong

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The following exchange took place with a fellow Christian and pro-lifer, in the context of a discussion about the fairness of the terminology anti-Catholic. But it can stand alone in its own right, as an examination of words and titles in the vexed and emotional abortion debate. Though I think the discussion of the terms themselves is entirely “objective,” I still mince no words in how I describe abortion and the worldview which condones it. So if such straightforwardness and frankness of a pro-lifer offends you, read no further. My friend’s words will be in blue.

* * * * *

In the abortion debate, would you find it acceptable to call the “pro-choice” position “anti-life” or even just “pro-abortion”?

Yes, having been a pro-life activist and having thought a lot about the question of terminology here as well.

Let’s face it, it really is anti-life, even if that is not the intent of the people involved, and it really is, technically, “pro-abortion.”

Not just technically, but very practically, in end result, I would say.

But those who hold that view do not like those terms because of what they imply–namely, that they don’t care about life and that abortion is the main thing to them when freedom of choice is really their burden.

Again, this accepts the terms of the opponent and ultimately involves compromise of principle. We are not obliged to ever do that simply in order not to offend someone. We don’t buy the whole anti-life mentality and change our terms, when ours are accurate. We know that the abortionists and proponents of this wickedness are uncomfortable with terminology precisely because its objective meanings and use expose what they advocate: child-killing; wanton destruction of innocent human life, etc. We don’t change our description and accept theirs simply so they won’t be offended!

Arguably, this prolongs the same mentality and denial of what is going on, by granting inaccurate terms.

“Pro choice” is itself a ridiculous use of English, for the question immediately arises: “choice to do what?” E.g., people speak of educational “choice” with regard to vouchers. But everyone knows that choice of schools is the “choice” referred to. Likewise, the “choice” in abortion involves an intrinsically immoral “choice” to kill (more specifically and precisely, murder) a preborn child. We merely point out that our opponents ought to be accurate in what they desire.

If our opponents were truly for a “woman’s right to choose,” as they say, then why do they invariably oppose Crisis Pregnancy Centers, informed consent laws, and requirements to have abortion fully explained to them before having one? Therefore, all of the foregoing suggests that they are much more accurately described as “pro-abortion.”

Besides, their chosen term for us is “anti-abortion.” I have said many times that I don’t mind that, as it is accurate. I am against abortion. What I do mind is the double standard routinely employed by the media and politicians, and academicians. They call us that, but insist on “pro-choice” for themselves. Besides the deficiencies outlined above, this applies a double standard by suggesting that they are primarily for something, while we are merely against something (i.e., the connotation of positive vs. negative).

They don’t want to say they are “for” killing, so they use the innocuous, very American- and libertarian-sounding word “choice.” This was a conscious, deliberate strategy on their part. But I say that the accurate parallel would be:

“anti-abortion” <————–> “pro-abortion”

This would show that one party opposes abortion, while the other “espouses” it in the sense that they think it should be legal, and that there is nothing ethically wrong with it.

Or, another fair use would be:

“Pro-Life” <————–> “Pro-Choice”

At least this would call both sides their own preferred title, even though “pro-choice” is a ridiculous, sloganistic butchery of the English language, especially when referring to savage child-killing.

Or:

“Pro-Life” <————–> “Pro-Abortion”

One side favors the protection of preborn human life; the other does not. That is an objective fact, especially for those who also oppose the death penalty (since that objection comes up so often).

But that’s not good enough. These people have to pick their own chosen term for us, anti-abortion (rather than our self-title), and use their own name (pro-choice) for themselves. That is the double standard, and I utterly despise such tactics. We see the same sort of thing in historiography, which is suffused with anti-Christian and anti-Catholic bias. The Christian-dominated periods of history are referred to as “The Dark Ages” (where such “dark” things as hospitals, capitalism, universities, glorious cathedrals, and printing were developed).

Much more accurate and non-pejorative would be famous historian Will Durant’s term “The Age of Faith.” That implies that subsequent periods have lost faith rather than gained extraordinary intelligence and wisdom which the medievals supposedly lacked, having been allegedly enslaved by the wicked Catholic Church. Likewise, with “Enlightenment.” The lights came on in 18th-century France (while heads rolled down the streets like bowling balls, one after another). What a joke!

Now, however much I disagree with them and however much I want their position to be seen for the abhorrence that it is (as I’m sure you agree with me), labeling them things like “pro-abortion” or “anti-life” is not the way to accomplish this. It is simply unfair because it communicates this truth simply by a label rather than by rational argumentation.

I completely disagree. I think the terminology as I discussed it above is the rational and fair way of going about it. Fighting abortion is not a Madison Avenue PR campaign. The pro-abortionists are the ones distorting the English language, and for the worst possible reasons. Why am I required to imply (very subtly) that I go along with their worldviews by using this warped terminology?

Arguably, that prolongs the practice of legal abortion, because we grant them their wicked categories of thought. All revolutions seek to change terminology in order to succeed. Thus Marxism had denigrating terms for capitalists and rich people. The Sexual Revolution turned debauchery, whoring, and philandering into “free love” and “try before you buy.” The old “bad girls” or “loose women” became “sensible career women” and male lechers and sexual predators became simply “[sexually active] bachelors” and “single guys [expected to indulge].”

The abnormal became “normal”; the immoral “moral” or a “lifestyle choice” which no one can “judge.” Nazism had a number of epithets for Jews. Bigoted white Americans had offensive terms for black people, and some blacks returned the favor. The goal now is to dehumanize the preborn child, so that the sin of murdering it is sugar-coated. And you want to grant them this goal of distorting terminology out of — in my humble opinion — a false sense of what “charity” is?

Or, if you disagree with that, there is another reason: it just seems that grace calls us to concede here and avoid the terms this movement says unfairly characterizes them.

I deny that it is unfair, but I am willing to call them “pro-choice” if they will refer to us routinely as “pro-life.” Or I will accept “anti-abortion” as long as they call themselves “pro-abortion” (which I believe is the most fair, sensible compromise).

The abhorrence of their position can be seen through other means; we don’t need to use labels to do that. And, for the sake of harmony, we shouldn’t use labels to do that.

Let them reciprocate, and I am willing, as I said. I will not use “pro-choice” until then, because it is both inaccurate and incomplete, and represents the worst sort of cynical propaganda and unconcern for “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

***

“Pro-Abortion”: Reply to an Objection to its Use [7-20-18]

***

(originally 11-23-00)

Photo credit: David Jackmanson (10-9-09): Pro Choice Rally, Queens Park, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia [Flickr / CC BY 2.0 license]

***

Previous Post

May 17, 2019

Our Merit is Based on Our Response to God's Grace

Next Post

May 19, 2019 Debate: Do Liberal Social Policies Lessen Abortion & Poverty?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category & Last Things About Me Anti-Catholicism Atheism & Agnosticism Baptism and Sacramentalism Bible and Tradition Blessed Virgin Mary Books by Dave Armstrong C. S. Lewis Calvinism & General Protestantism Catholic Apologetics Catholic Apologists Catholic conversion Catholic converts Christmas Church (Ecclesiology) Church History Conversion and Converts Development of Doctrine Eastern Orthodoxy Ecumenism & Christian Unity Eucharist & Liturgy Fathers of the Church French Translations G. K. Chesterton Hell Hell & Satan Hell & Satan & Last Things Heresies & Comparative Religion Holistic Health Inquisition & Crusades & Scandals James White Jews & Judaism & Old Testament John Calvin John Henry Newman Liberal / Modernist Theology Life Issues Literary Resume Lutheranism Mariology Martin Luther Music Orthodoxy Papacy & Infallibility Personal Page Philosophy & Science Political & Ethical & Moral Issues Protestant Persecution & Intolerance Protestantism Purgatory Purgatory & Penance Romantic & Imaginative Theology Saints & Purgatory & Penance Salvation Salvation & Justification Satan & Last Things Sexuality and Gender Issues Spanish Translations Traditionalism vs. Radical Catholic Reactionaries Traducciones al español / tradução para português Trinitarianism & Christology Uncategorized Videos

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 April 2010 March 2010 December 2009 October 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 March 2009 February 2009 October 2008 September 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 May 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 October 2005 June 2005 April 2005 February 2005 July 2004 May 2004 April 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz