Abortion and the questions we can ask ourselves

As we take in the thunderous news that the US Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, each of us must grapple with where we stand on the issue of abortion and what those beliefs are rooted in.

Overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling would end federal abortion rights granted to all US Americans and return the decision to each individual state, effectively outlawing abortion either largely or entirely in half the country.

Here are some fundamental questions at the root of the abortion issue that each of us can research and ask ourselves in order to help get clarity on where we stand and why:

Should the US Constitution be considered a “living” or “closed” document?

If a “living” document, since abortion rights aren’t explicitly stated in the Constitution, should they be considered part of the basic human rights implicitly granted under the Constitution?

Should religion play a role in abortion rights?

Should fetuses have rights?

If fetuses should have rights, at what point of their development should those rights activate?

If fetuses should have rights, how should they be balanced with the rights of mothers?

If abortion should be legal, should there by limits as to the timing (ex. 15 weeks? 22 weeks? etc) and/or circumstances (rape, incest, life of mother, etc) of when it is allowed?

If there should be limits, what exactly are those circumstances and that timing threshold?

These are all complicated questions without easy answers. But the best chance any of us has at getting to clarity on such a profound and complex topic is by exploring each aspect with empathy, curiosity, and humility.

These next few weeks and months surrounding the abortion issue in this country will be deeply-emotional and highly-charged. May we all approach this moment with an open mind and compassion for a life-and-death issue that affects so many of our fellow citizens.

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