A Ceasefire in the Abortion Culture Wars?

I argue in this Cleveland Plain Dealer op-ed that the time is ripe to end the abortion stalemate. But this will require a new perspective from both the far left and far right, who often seem more interested in defending turf and demonizing opponents than seizing a unique historical moment.

By John Gehring

I argue in this Cleveland Plain Dealer op-ed that the time is ripe to end the abortion stalemate. But this will require a new perspective from both the far left and far right, who often seem more interested in defending turf and demonizing opponents than seizing a unique historical moment.

After more than three decades of political paralysis and legal gridlock, common-ground abortion reduction efforts are gaining traction. As the Washington Post reported back in the fall, the debate is shifting from culture-war polarization and righteous rhetoric to finding real solutions. At this time of economic crisis, it’s even more essential than ever that we debunk the false divide between social justice and pro-life advocacy. Policies that help put Americans back to work, ensure families have affordable health care and strengthen fraying social safety nets also lower the abortion rate, which is more than four times higher for women living in poverty than for women earning 300 percent above the poverty line.

Mark Silk of Spiritual Politics is moonlighting over at Beliefnet and gives his take on the possibilities and pitfalls here.

David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network has an interesting sit down with Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, who sees a “window of opportunity” where pro-choicers and pro-lifers (even those labels seem inadequate for the complexities of this issue) can work together across often bitter divides. Conservatives are also coming to the table. Pastor Joel Hunter of Northland Church in Florida — a Republican and author of A New Kind of Conservative – has been a high-profile leader in advocating for this comprehensive approach. Along with other evangelicals, Hunter has endorsed Third Way’s Come Let us Reason Together agenda, an effort to bring evangelicals and progressives together in dialogue around the most divisive cultural issues of our time.

Let’s not assume this will be easy. Decades of polarization don’t simply melt away with happy talk about common ground. But this seems to be an idea whose time has come. As Steve Schneck, director of the Life Cycle Institute at The Catholic University of America has said, “the stars are starting to align.”