Jerry Falwell once said something to the effect that the Christian Right needed to use their numbers to force the issue of abortion and then worry about "educating" people on the "why" after the fact. I think that's misguided.
The Catholic Church and all Christian churches that oppose abortion need to win in the "arena of ideas" as Rush calls it. We need to make our case powerfully and convince people that abortion, while legal, is not a moral option. Once we successfully do that, the practice of abortion will fade from existence.
I believe that, if the War Between the States hadn't occurred, slavery would have eventually disappeared in America because the anti-slavery side held the moral high ground. The economic arguments for slavery would have lost to the moral arguments. The same thing will happen with abortion if the churches stay with preaching the gospel and not try to ramrod a legislative agenda.
That's true. And we are.
Pope Mourns Death of Cardinal Jaime Sin
Philippine Prelate Was Defender of Democracy
VATICAN CITY, JUNE 21, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI said he was "deeply saddened" by the death of Cardinal Jaime Sin, the retired archbishop of Manila who died at the age of 76.
..."Cardinal Sin insisted that religion had a role to play in the affairs of the state, a conviction he summed up at his retirement ceremony: 'My duty is to put Christ in politics. Politics without Christ is the greatest scourge of the nation."
"The cardinal also organized protests against the state's attempt to curb population growth."
While having the ring of reason, I think such a strategy will not meet our goal. As long as elective abortion is legal, irresponsible men and women will utilize it as a birth control of last resort. Protecting the right to life is one of the core responsibilities of government. It is not unreasonable to ask our government to protect these rights for babies.
As a Christian, I think we should follow the strategy of doing everything we can to change the mind of our nation, counseling at risk mothers and working with them. We should also work to see Roe v. Wade repealed and elective abortion ended state by state.