The Dismemberment Bill and Stopping the Killing

I literally hate writing this blog. To write a critique of the South Carolina House Bill entitled, “SC Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act” (H3548), feels at a visceral level very wrong. Yes, dismemberment abortion to a second trimester baby in the womb through surgical cutting or ripping is about as cruel, barbaric and ghastly a procedure as could be imagined by any sane person. A “gut” reaction to any thinking, moral person is to yell “stop it” now. But here is the problem…the same could be said for a half-dozen other ways to exterminate a baby in the womb and we simply cannot find the moral outrage or courage to look at this whole death industry and say, “stop it” now. In fact, upon reading the bill, you will find that it contains the usual exceptions: life of the mother, rape, and incest, as well as specifically excluding suction methods for abortion and extraction. I can only assume that this would maintain intact saline abortions (otherwise known as “salting out”) which after insertion of the chemical into the mother’s amniotic fluid sac and waiting an hour the pre-born baby is effectively burned to death and removed. No less ghastly and barbaric procedure, but apparently not gruesome enough to be enjoined in H3548.

I understand the arguments for incrementalism. I understand that there are many in both the pro-life and political establishment which are convinced that these incremental micro-steps are the only way to stop this moral outrage. The attempt to legislate the outright abolition of abortion has far too many risks according to many of these people. The stated concerns usually swirl around the constitutionality of attempting too much at one time and actually losing ground. Others say that the cost of defending abolishment legislation is too much for the state. In other words, it is simply impractical and fiscally irresponsible to do what is morally right. Therefore, legislation like H3548, is the safer, more cost effective method of addressing this moral evil. It’s the reason why S217 (SC Senate, Personhood Bill), a true abolishment step, has always had an uphill battle with many pro-life advocates. They see fiscal and legal impracticality while others see moral imperative.

But the Dismemberment Bill “feels” better to support. It’s easy to unveil it’s barbarism. People “get” the horror of ripping an easily identified baby apart. Hey, I get it too. To suggest that our strategic plans to abolish abortion are not best served by this bill appears uncaring or uncommitted (which is simply not the truth). But somebody should ask the question, “How, exactly, does this move the ball forward towards the ultimate goal of abolishment? How do you regulate one form of killing, yet not the equally gruesome alternative forms of killing and maintain your integrity in stopping the American Holocaust?” I understand the incendiary comparison to Nazi Germany, but what real progress would have been made in stopping that holocaust by regulating the Nazi’s use of gas chambers when they had equally vile ways of killing the Jewish people? Slapping each other’s back and “feeling” better about the removal of gas chambers does not effect the foundational evil when firing squads and gallows are still available. Christians can choose to live in the mirage that some momentum is being loosed by passing H3548, but the reality remains that the number of babies killed is likely unchanged. I hate saying that, but I can see no other outcome. In my analysis, I see several concerns that we need to be painfully honest:

1. H3548 addresses the abortionist. It in no way changes the minds or addresses the actions of those who opt for abortion. Is there any thinking person who is not convinced that the abortionist will find another way around the regulation? The exceptions themselves provide ample cover to any abortionist in these matters.

2. However many lives H3548 purports to save, the fact is there are options around this procedure which still kills the baby. You cannot use the statistic indicating the number of babies subject to dismemberment as an analogous statistic as to how many babies will be saved. The horrific fact is that if there is a “will there is a way”. Both abortionist and mothers will find a way.

3. H3548 addresses a procedure for 2nd trimester abortions used exclusively in hospitals and will not change the untold thousands of babies killed in freestanding clinics.

And yet, incredible amounts of money, energy, and political capital are spent on these types of bills. We schedule debates to determine the type of weapon which can be used to kill babies, rather than address the killing itself. Am I the only one seeing a tragic convolution in all of this? Why is it that our political adversaries and moral relativists can take momentous steps to change the definition of marriage, gender, and bathroom usage; but Christians and civic leaders cannot summon the courage and the financial commitment to stop the killing and defend the legislation which enforces it?

So the question arises, “Will I support H3548?”

Let me answer like this…

I will not discourage passage of the bill, but you won’t find me beating the drum for it either. I won’t be the spoiler to evaporate the mirage many choose to live in by thinking that progress has been made to address the greatest social justice issue of our era. I understand that people in our era are looking for a “feeling” that appears to be substantive, instead of standing on a principle that transcends momentary feelings in order to establish true justice. For me, running in circles is not the same as moving the ball down the field. I have no problem with valid incrementalism which substantively reduces killing and is effectively pointed towards true abolishment. What I do have a problem with is the resistance of the professional pro-life movement in numerous states consistently and actively resisting opportunities to abolish this atrocity. You may say that your stated goals are for abolishment, but your strategy and tactics are speaking something else. So pass H3548 and declare a victory…over what I am not sure, but it will at least momentarily feel good. As for me and a growing army of others…we continue to say to the Church and to our civic leaders…”It’s time now, to stop the killing”.