Believe it or not, most individuals who identify as pro-choice are not cold blooded baby-killers seeking to advance a culture of death. And guess what? Most individuals who identify as pro-life are not religious bigots and misogynists hell-bent on oppressing women.
After over 40 years of emotional rhetoric and demeaning euphemisms, abortion remains one of, if not the most, divisive issues in our nation. Both sides of the debate demonize and dehumanize the other. We prefer to label rather than listen. We prefer to condemn rather than converse.
Pope Francis often talks about “tearing down walls” and “building bridges.” Perhaps it is time for pro-choice and pro-life advocates to tear down the wall of derision and build a bridge of dialogue; to tear down the wall of contempt and build a bridge of civility; to tear down the wall of hate and build a bridge of love.
Jesus’ command to “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us” is not some sappy slogan or pious platitude. It is a radical mandate to change our hearts; for only in changing our own hearts can we ever hope to change the hearts of others.
Keith G. Kondrich
Swisshelm Park