By Fr. Ronald Wasowski, C.S.C.
After reading "Reassessing an old debate" in the Feb. 4, 2010 issue of The Beacon, I will try to refocus and simplify Mr. Boswell's commentary.
The pull quote emphasizes Mr. Boswell's assertion that "we can all agree that to condemn one side or another ... is a pretty unhealthy approach" yet he goes on to describe Ms. Cowan, who was speaking gently in defense of unborn human life, as using "the language of a tyrannical morality, as dishonest and nefarious as the images evoked by The Partial Abortion Ban."
Sadly, Mr. Boswell does what he decries. I will do my best to avoid that pitfall. In his commentary, Mr. Boswell jumps right into the Gordian Knot of when an immortal soul might be infused into a human being. In so doing, he jumped right over some critically important facts. As a natural scientist, I always strive for fact-based decision making, especially regarding serious issues like abortion. Here, I present four simple statements. They represent the foundational thinking of many who defend the life of the unborn.
1. It is wrong to deliberately kill innocent human beings.
2. Embryos and fetuses in utero are human beings.
3. Abortion deliberately kills innocent human embryos and fetuses in utero.
4. Abortion is wrong. While it is most definitely a statement of values, the first assertion does not require any faith, as confirmed by so many agnostics and atheists who respect all human life.
This respect for life seems to be inherent in humans, reminiscent of the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, where we hear that all humans possess certain unalienable rights, the first of these being life.
As such, the right to life is not simply inherent in all of us; it is part of our nation's foundational law.
The second assertion only requires knowledge of the most basic facts of reproductive biology.
Countless philosophically, theologically and politically independent experts assert that the life of every individual human begins at syngamy (i.e., conception): that moment when a human ovum and a human sperm completely join their haploid (i.e., unpaired) chromosomes into a diploid (i.e., paired) set of chromosomes. From that genetically unique single cell (the zygote), there is an uninterrupted development process through the embryonic and fetal stages to birth, presuming the lack of fatal genetic defects and the presence of shelter, nutrition and hydration in utero.
The third assertion is an utterly simple yet completely accurate description of the intent and results of abortion, whether surgical or chemical.
The fourth assertion follows logically from the first three. Once these statements have been civilly discussed, we can begin to consider the possibility of moving on to esoteric issues like when infusion of a soul might occur. But first, "Just the facts, ma'am" with some simple logic added for good measure.
In closing, I ask Mr. Boswell and all readers: Do you have the courage to find out what partial birth abortion actually involves? Those facts might bring you to acknowledge what all abortion involves: the choice of death for the unborn.
Fr. Ronald J. Wasowski, C.S.C., is an environmental science professor
