The power of Truth: Why minds change on abortion.
I often find myself wondering what it is specifically that makes it possible for someone to change their mind. Sometimes our deep-seated positions can move, and we see things in a new light. Trivial matters of taste or style with consequences only for us may come and go with age, weather and finances, but heavier matters where a shift or indeed a reversal of previously held positions carries consequences for people and things beyond ourselves are really interesting. My own entry into the Roman Catholic Church this Easter is certainly testament to the latter.
Our opinions on serious issues are affected and informed by all kinds of influences but socially, this can be from family, friends or society at large. The desire to fit in is a strong one, there is an equally strong desire I think, that has more to do with not rocking the boat and maintaining a quiet or comfortable life. Other times it’s a wearing down of resolve and the “if we can’t beat them, join them!” attitude starts to look attractive. Is that a mind change? In many cases, probably not. And if the pressure to revert came back, how many would? Would that constitute a mind change or just a more comfortable position of truth?
When it comes to abortion there are some high-profile examples of people who became convinced the practice was abhorrent despite making a living off the slaughter for years. This is especially apparent in the US where the health system works in a particular way and the citizens have the benefit of Free Speech, (look into it, Sir Keir.) I’m sure that American culture has a role in how people are generally more vocal with their opinions. I have read and listened to many stories of former abortionists, clinic nurses or administrators and others who realise the truth of abortion and because of that must confront themselves, and when they turn away from the abortion industry have a huge amount of processing and healing to do. It’s comforting for these people and for all of us that there is a God who forgives and who can heal.
Often these people go on to work hard at changing other minds, at raising awareness and campaigning for changes.
Medical research out this week that highlight the very real dangers of the abortion pill to mothers show the risks of taking them are far higher and more frequent than the manufacturers claim. This is cold medical evidence that this is not safe, and even though we know that abortions are unsafe anyway, here we have evidence that should see all pills recalled and the DIY application in the bin. Will we see it? Of course not. Even when confronted with truth, the desire to make money, or save money is paramount in what is an industry. So how will any minds change at the top? If it is to be from facts and figures, we have those, if it is to be from anecdotes and testimonies, we have those. if it is to be from logic and common sense, this has been shown over and over. If it is to be from conversion to faith, we must pray for that.
We are fighting a hydra. For everyone involved who changes their mind, to everyone not directly involved who changes their mind, either from ambivalence or conviction there will be more who replace them who need the same convincing. What has the hydra to lose, outside of a revenue stream? The ardent abortion supporters who have no financial interest at all are just as loud. The answer is the same as it was for the people who left that industry. They will have to stand and face themselves in the light of truth, of what they have done or advocated, and this is always painful. This is why this is a binary issue; there’s no middle ground and it’s life or death. It’s why for many of us on the side of the unborn God cannot be left out of the question, because he is life, and without him there is only death.
It can be difficult, arguing on behalf of those who cannot argue for themselves. We can say the Civil Rights movement was able to articulate its own position, and the same for Women’s Vote and countless other Western societal changes where minds were changed. We fight for those who cannot speak to change minds because we have confronted the truth about abortion and know it for what it is. The truth changes minds and the unborn are relying on the truth to defeat the hydra, and it will.
Daniel:
March for Life UK Content Creator
