{"id":43656,"date":"2013-12-02T21:31:01","date_gmt":"2013-12-03T02:31:01","guid":{"rendered":"\/news\/?p=43656"},"modified":"2013-12-02T21:48:37","modified_gmt":"2013-12-03T02:48:37","slug":"on-defying-a-pro-life-assumption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/on-defying-a-pro-life-assumption\/","title":{"rendered":"On defying a pro-life assumption"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

A recent post of mine for Live Action News, “I have been thankful for two years now,”<\/a>\u00a0 has certainly received some attention. LifeNews.com has re-posted<\/a> the article, and sharing the link on its Facebook page<\/a> has prompted some mixed opinions.<\/p>\n

I hope to be a role model in that I am a pro-lifer and believe in the importance of pro-life relationships. I am certainly \"1240244_10152237388300620_2074584350_n\"<\/a>not a perfect role model though, as I am neither a perfect Christian nor person. Having engaged in pre-marital sex, I am indeed a sinner, and I admit that. We are all sinners though, and this is a sin I have personally struggled with.<\/p>\n

Some comments suggested I break up with my boyfriend. I am glad not to have done so, as I believe in second chances. I am also thankful he has given me many chances in other areas of our relationship, as we deeply love each other.<\/p>\n

I am happy to say that at least one person understood the point of my article, through such a Facebook comment from Nicole Fortune: “Beautiful story. Some men need just one good woman’s “permission” to admit their discomfort with all the pro choice (baby butchering) rhetoric.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I will say that the best way for a pro-life couple to avoid an unplanned pregnancy, and thus possibly experience suggestions or even pressure to have an abortion, is of course abstinence. But, as my boyfriend and I have shown, one does not need to be abstinent in order to be pro-life.<\/p>\n

I have addressed pro-life assumptions<\/a>\u00a0with a previous article. One common misconception seems to be that pro-lifers are virgins. I, and other contributors, have received comments assuming that they must be prudes or even hate sex. Really, from a single article, especially one about how to have a pro-life conversation<\/a>, one cannot be 100 percent certain about someone’s sex life. And, as is the case with myself, some assumptions turn out to be wrong.<\/p>\n

And as I wrote under the subtitle of “Pro-lifers are prudes and virgins:”<\/strong><\/p>\n

But whatever kind of sexual experience a pro-lifer has had, such experience does not speak to all, and it does not make them any more or less devoted as a pro-lifer.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now again, I don’t think it makes me the world’s best role model to have engaged in pre-marital sex. I don’t want to say that I am proud of my sexual activity, but I do feel I am contributing to the diversity of the pro-life movement. Our opponents may think we’re all the same, but when we prove them wrong through pro-lifers who may not be virgins, Christians, or Republicans (just to name a few assumptions), I feel it can only further show the flaw in their stance while strengthening our own.<\/p>\n

I have written about abstinence before, and how encouraging one to abstain is not about making a judgment call.<\/a> I have also written for Juicy Ecumenism<\/em> arguing<\/a> for sex within the confines of at least a meaningful relationship. While my views on abstinence have changed over the course of my lifetime, I have nothing against those who remain virgins until they are married. I admire such persons and hold them in high esteem for having the resolve.<\/p>\n

Some may call me a hypocrite for not being a virgin but still encouraging others to remain one. But, as I already mentioned, I do believe that I bring something to the pro-life movement, and not just through showing we’re not all the same. I think I bring something through my experiences. I can personally say that sex outside of marriage, especially when not even in a long-term relationship, hurts. It especially hurts emotionally. I am not saying that everyone else should abstain but that I can have sex. And I am not trying to control people’s lives. Rather, I am trying to help them, so that they don’t feel the same kind of pain by making the mistakes I have made.<\/p>\n

There are others who don’t fit the mold of what is perceived to be typical for pro-lifers. We need people like them in our movement to show that even though we’re not the same, we can still unite in fighting for the rights of the unborn. I have always felt accepted by the pro-life movement, but perhaps not all have. In order to be diverse and to show our opponents that we are, we also need to be welcoming.<\/p>\n

My Live Action News bio is updated pretty regularly by myself, but it always includes a link to my Facebook. This is because I want to connect with my readers, even and especially my critics. I invite and also encourage anyone and everyone with questions or comments to add me as a friend, or to personally message me. I want to help people and I want people to know that although I am far from perfect, I am proudly pro-life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A recent post of mine for Live Action News, “I have been thankful for two years now,”\u00a0 has certainly received some attention. LifeNews.com has re-posted the article, and sharing the link on its Facebook page has prompted some mixed opinions. 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