Frauds

The National Life Chain was held today.

Perhaps you participated. You might have held a sign bearing "one of the following approved pro-life sign messages":

• ABORTION KILLS CHILDREN
• JESUS FORGIVES AND HEALS
• ADOPTION: THE LOVING OPTION
• LORD, FORGIVE US AND OUR NATION
• ABORTION HURTS WOMEN
• PRAY TO END ABORTION
• LIFE—THE FIRST INALIENABLE RIGHT 

Of course, we must keep in mind that 73% of women state as one of their reasons for aborting that they cannot afford to have a child in their present circumstances, according to a study appearing in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. So, for next year's National Life Chain, might I propose the following sign messages: 

• A WOMAN CHOSE ADOPTION: LOVING PRO-LIFERS SHOULD CHOOSE TO ADOPT
• PEOPLE NEED LOVE AFTER THEY'RE BORN, TOO
• PRAY TO END ABANDONMENT OF THE POOR
• NEGLECT KILLS POOR CHILDREN
• STOP LETTING POOR CHILDREN DIE: VOTE DEMOCRATIC

It's easy for pro-lifers to stand on sidewalks with signs. It's much more difficult to care for children who would otherwise be neglected by women who are too poor to care for them properly. And many conservatives can't bear the thought of their tax dollars being used to help children—those who are poor through no fault of their own. 

The people behind the National Life Chain, Please Let Me Live, quote Leviticus 18:21 in support of their pro-life view: "Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God." 

Perhaps they neglected to read Leviticus 19:9–10: "When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien." 

Many conservatives claim to be pro-life. They're not. Until they adopt those children they urged poor women to have, and until they stop fighting Democratic efforts to make raising children affordable, they're frauds.