Not the Rape Victim’s Fault

Abortion is wrong regardless of the circumstances of the child’s conception, but it’s not always time to make a pro-life argument. Rape is an awful crime and an extremely sensitive topic. Your top priorities should be showing compassion, making it clear that you’re on the rape victim’s side, and condemning rape. You must make it obvious that you understand that rape is gravely evil. Otherwise, the person you’re talking to might think you have a “broken moral compass” and might not bother thinking seriously about any points you make about abortion.

Eventually, the conversation may reach a point where it’s appropriate to discuss the ethics of abortion in cases of rape. At this point, you can gently point out that the mother and child are both victims of the rape. It’s not the mother’s fault that she’s pregnant, and it’s not the child’s fault either. The rapist should be held accountable for his crime. Neither victim should be punished or blamed.

You can also discuss the following scenario. A rape victim becomes pregnant and decides to carry the baby to term. She gives birth to a boy and decides to raise him herself. At first, the mom loves her child, but as he gets older, his facial features develop. By the time he’s two years old, he looks strikingly similar to his father. Now, when the mom sees her child, she has traumatic flashbacks to her rape. She starts to resent her child and even hate him, and it gets to the point that she wants to kill him. Gently ask whether she should be allowed to kill him.