Words and Phrases to Drop from Our Pro-Life Vocabulary

[buffalo]

Words and Phrases to Drop from Our Pro-Life Vocabulary

As personhood advocates, it is critically important that we use the correct terminology to describe preborn babies, their mothers, the very act of abortion and even the facilities in which abortions are committed. It doesn’t matter if you are a full time pro-life advocate or a “normal” person who works, goes to school, takes care of your family, etc. We must all watch what we say in daily life—even in casual conversation.
So, the words we use are very powerful and can make the difference between life and death. You might be surprised to realize that even we pro-lifers often use terms and phrases that can be dehumanizing to the very people we are trying to save. That can cause confusion and that can hamper our efforts to obtain recognition of the human rights of all human persons. As we educate the public and advocate for the rights of all human persons, born and preborn, we must seriously examine the language we use and make some changes, if necessary.
With that in mind, I am going to share with you this short list of terms and phrases that we should drop from our pro-life vocabulary:

more…

 

[beafedor]

That’s great, thank you for sharing this. I always refer to: a mother and a baby and a violent act that takes a life and hurts a mother as far as abortion is concerned. Also, why don’t pro-aborts use the Latin word Gravidas for the pregnant woman? Some people go as far as talking about “fetal container” or “loser in the contraception lottery”. So poetic! Anyways, thanks again.

 

[DOShea]

Nice list for the most part, but I’m not sure why you’d advocate not using the term “Pro-Choice?” What term will you substitute for those who believe it is a right of choice, though they themselves would not choose to have an abortion? Not that I am defending that stance, frankly I think it’s goofy, but there are many people who are in that position.

They’re not pro-life, not pro-abortion (though I point out to them that as it regards laws and decisions, their stance has the same effect as a pro-abortion stance), so what are they?

 

[beafedor]

Nice list for the most part, but I’m not sure why you’d advocate not using the term “Pro-Choice?” What term will you substitute for those who believe it is a right of choice, though they themselves would not choose to have an abortion? Not that I am defending that stance, frankly I think it’s goofy, but there are many people who are in that position.

They’re not pro-life, not pro-abortion (though I point out to them that as it regards laws and decisions, their stance has the same effect as a pro-abortion stance), so what are they?

DOShea, what I’m telling them is: “so you think abortion is wrong but it is acceptable in some cases” or “you want to keep abortion available/legal in case of…”
and I like this one “if abortion is not good enough for you, why is it good enough for other people?” on making abortion “rare”: “why would you want to make something rare unless it’s bad?”

But first, try to find out why they support abortion then you can substitute “pro-choice” and “pro-abortion” for an expression that makes clear what they support it rather that the fact that they are pro-abort in denial.
Take courage! Prayers.

 

[DOShea]

I am familiar with how to discuss the issues with them, that really wasn’t my point. My point is that, precarious as their position is from a logical or rational standpoint, there still are people who really think they’d never get an abortion (they do see something wrong with it) but at the same time think it is okay for others to decide for themselves. These are the ones I would call pro-Choice, not simply your run-of-the-mill pro-abortionist.

Without that term, what do you call people with that view?

 

[Tasha]

I think this is an important post. We’ve had these terms drilled into our heads and we say them without thinking. It does have an impact. I prefer to use pro-murder for “pro-choice” myself.

 

[Jordan9]

Hmmm, I like the term “abortion advocate” instead of “pro-choice.” While I don’t necesarily disagree with the usage of “pro-death” or “pro-murder” or “anti-life,” they can be pretty divisive, and, in my experience, end the discussion before it even starts.

“Abortion advocate” is a good way to properly label them (because only one person gets a “choice”) without alienating people.

 

[buffalo]

Nice list for the most part, but I’m not sure why you’d advocate not using the term “Pro-Choice?” What term will you substitute for those who believe it is a right of choice, though they themselves would not choose to have an abortion? Not that I am defending that stance, frankly I think it’s goofy, but there are many people who are in that position.

They’re not pro-life, not pro-abortion (though I point out to them that as it regards laws and decisions, their stance has the same effect as a pro-abortion stance), so what are they?

Pro-death.

 

[maryjk]

I think this is an important post. We’ve had these terms drilled into our heads and we say them without thinking. It does have an impact. I prefer to use pro-murder for “pro-choice” myself.

Pro-death.

Pro-life means that every pregnant woman does all she can to bring a child into this world.
Then pro-death or pro-murder means that every pregnant woman does all she can to kill the child. Or don’t they?

Maybe there is a better word to use.

 

[buffalo]

Pro-life means that every pregnant woman does all she can to bring a child into this world.
Then pro-death or pro-murder means that every pregnant woman does all she can to kill the child. Or don’t they?

Maybe there is a better word to use.

Not really - it is simply the support of policies that allow one to murder their unborn child. Even if you do not make the choice but advocate that others can make it, it advances the culture of death.

 

[beafedor]

Some people call themselves “abortion greys” because they refuse to see abortion as a black or white type of issue. That’s a lie and I refuse to use that expression as much as the “choice” expression. Why are we afraid to call them pro-abortion? That’s what they are. Pro-abort, abortion advocates (thanks Jordan9), those who support abortion, those in favor of abortion, those who think abortion is Ok in some cases…

Buffalo you are right, abortion really is murder but I think we should save this word for abortion providers who know what they are doing and are taking advantage of the distress of women. Curtis Boyd MD recently admitted in an interview that what he is doing indeed is killing babies.

For the “pro-choice crowd” (=people who would never choose abortion for themselves but are seduced by some twisted political idea such as “I want to make abortion rare but still keep it legal”), it’s a different approach. We must first get them to admit that they truly are pro-abort, and that there is no such a thing as a “pro-life person with exceptions”. They already agree that abortion is wrong and that’s what we need to emphasize by sharing real abortion stories for example. silentnomoreawareness.org/ Make them understand that there is no such a thing as “freedom of choice” and that abortion causes sterility, cancer, depression, substance abuse… in addition of killing a child. I should know, I’ve taken the lives of 2 of my own children in the past and today I’m an advocate for Life.

People have different levels of knowledge and understanding of what is killing a baby human in the womb according to the lies they were fed on and the culture they were raised in.
As Christians, we are called to show them the Truth. Thank you all for your Pro-Life efforts.

 

[fix]

I am familiar with how to discuss the issues with them, that really wasn’t my point. My point is that, precarious as their position is from a logical or rational standpoint, there still are people who really think they’d never get an abortion (they do see something wrong with it) but at the same time think it is okay for others to decide for themselves. These are the ones I would call pro-Choice, not simply your run-of-the-mill pro-abortionist.

Without that term, what do you call people with that view?

Pro abortion. They support legalized abortion.

 

[elts1956]

Nice list for the most part, but I’m not sure why you’d advocate not using the term “Pro-Choice?” What term will you substitute for those who believe it is a right of choice, though they themselves would not choose to have an abortion? Not that I am defending that stance, frankly I think it’s goofy, but there are many people who are in that position.

They’re not pro-life, not pro-abortion (though I point out to them that as it regards laws and decisions, their stance has the same effect as a pro-abortion stance), so what are they?

Wimps. They are too lazy to get involved.

 

[beafedor]

Wimps. They are too lazy to get involved.

What about the word Lapsi?
definition from Catholic Encyclopedia: Lapsi ( Latin, labi, lapsus ). catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=6858

“The regular designation in the third century for Christians who relapsed into heathenism, especially for those who during the persecutions displayed weakness in the face of torture, and denied the Faith by sacrificing to the heathen gods or by any other acts. Many of the lapsi, indeed the majority of the very numerous cases in the great persecutions after the middle of the third century, certainly did not return to paganism out of conviction: they simply had not the courage to confess the Faith steadfastly when threatened with temporal losses and severe punishments (banishments, forced labor [smudged in my version]… death), and their sole desire was to preserve themselves from persecution by an external act of apostasy, and to save their property, freedom, and life.”

 

[mapleoak]

‘Pro-choice’ is an oxymoron. It is also a euphamism.
What would someone who is ‘personally opposed to child molestation, but doesn’t want to infringe on others rights to molest children’ be called?

 

[elts1956]

What about the word Lapsi?
definition from Catholic Encyclopedia: Lapsi ( Latin, labi, lapsus ). catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=6858

“The regular designation in the third century for Christians who relapsed into heathenism, especially for those who during the persecutions displayed weakness in the face of torture, and denied the Faith by sacrificing to the heathen gods or by any other acts. Many of the lapsi, indeed the majority of the very numerous cases in the great persecutions after the middle of the third century, certainly did not return to paganism out of conviction: they simply had not the courage to confess the Faith steadfastly when threatened with temporal losses and severe punishments (banishments, forced labor [smudged in my version]… death), and their sole desire was to preserve themselves from persecution by an external act of apostasy, and to save their property, freedom, and life.”

That will work.