Alternative To Abortion
by Nathan Tabor

Crowds of pro-life Americans filled the streets of Washington, D.C. to protest the 32 years of bloody infanticide that have followed the immoral Roe v. Wade decision of 1973. March for Life organizers estimated that more than 250,000 hardy souls braved the bitter cold to stand in defense of innocent unborn children.

A variety of speakers urged the assembled activists to stay the course, promising victory ahead. With several appointments to the Supreme Court in the offing, the prospect for reversing the Roe decision seems more real than it has in recent years.

President George W. Bush encouraged the marchers by telephone from Camp David. “We’re making progress in Washington,” Bush insisted, on issues like partial birth abortion, legal protection for infants that survive an attempted abortion, the right of doctors and nurses to refuse to perform abortions on the grounds of conscience, and criminal prosecution for those who harm or kill a fetus while committing a crime against the mother. All positive developments.

“We are working to promote a culture of life, to promote compassion for women and their unborn babies,” the President declared. But Bush also issued a solemn challenge to the crowd.

“I encourage you to take heart from our achievements, because a true culture of life cannot be sustained solely by changing laws. We need, most of all, to change hearts,” Bush declared.

There are many in America who preach against abortion — which I completely agree with. But there are very few who preach for the adoption of those innocent children “rescued” from abortion. Frankly, this reeks of hypocrisy. Abortion-rights activists are always challenging pro-life Christians about whether or not they have adopted. I believe this is quite fair. Remember the familiar phrase, “Put your money where your mouth is”?

We say we reverence human life, and we repudiate the heartless mother who would slay the innocent child within her womb. But do we care enough to take that unwanted child into our own home and give it the love and nurturing that it needs to grow up to adulthood? We need to show our love not only in word but also in deed.

President Bush spoke of “The America of our dreams, where every child is welcomed in life, and protected by law.” Yes, we want those babies protected by law . . . but are we willing to make personal sacrifices to welcome them into life?

Adoption truly is the alternative to abortion. Showing birth mothers that their little ones will have a safe and loving home will go a long way toward changing their hearts.

It is a fact that an abortion is fairly simple to attain as well as inexpensive, while adoption is quite a tedious and costly process. Many parents are forced to go overseas to adopt because of the regulations and costs. Most adoptions in America take place only because of a couple’s infertility. I understand we must be careful about who adopts and their intentions. Still, we need to streamline the process and lower the cost of adoptions in the USA.

On a personal note, my parents were foster parents, so I grew up with other children sitting around the table with my two natural brothers and me. I saw firsthand how much good a loving family can do in the life of a child who has no one else.

Last week, my wife Jordan gave birth to our first child, a precious little baby girl. We have talked and both agree that we would like to adopt a child one day. What about you?

According to their 2003-04 Annual Report, Planned Parenthood’s clinics aborted 138 children for every one time they referred their clients to an outside agency for adoption. But Crisis Pregnancy Centers are the pro-life alternative to Planned Parenthood clinics. They offer a haven of hope and unconditional love for both the unwed mother and her unborn child. I serve on the board of the Hope Crisis Pregnancy Center in King, NC.

We need to support these centers with both our time and our money.

Nathan Tabor is a conservative political activist based in Kernersville, North Carolina. He has his BA in Psychology and his Master's Degree in Public Policy. He is a contributing editor at www.theconservativevoice.com.

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