When I hear opponents of abortion say how wrong abortion is because each fetus is a human life, I have to pose this question. When, at what point in the future life of that fetus does it loose that value?
If life is precious as a fetus, why should it not be equally precious throughout each stage of its development? At what stage can the fetus loose the right to life?
Life is precious whether it’s a fetus or a fifty-year-old convict on death row. Abortion and the death penalty are the same act, but occurring at different stages in the development of the fetus. Execution is abortion at a later time. Why are the vocal opponents of abortion, such as Congressman Bart Stupak, not speaking out just as loudly against the death penalty?
If life is precious as a fetus, but can be deemed to be worthless enough to be destroyed at some later time in its development, then at some point, that life must have lost its value. That fetus somehow lost the right to live. When, precisely? At what point? Why? Who said so?
This is the question that must be answered: When does a human life loose its value? When can a human life be aborted? Unless you can answer that question, you cannot be against abortion and in favor of the death penalty at the same time.
To be in favor of one and against the other is a contradiction, a fallacy; it is illogical thought. It is to live a lie. To those who speak out forcefully against abortion, as Congressman Stupak is doing, I urge you to speak out forcefully against the death penalty as well. Condemn them equally, or hold your peace, lest you be seen to be giving the appearance of cherry-picking your moral principles.