A reader writes

I made the argument that it is quite silly for the Left to make the argument that the government somehow does or does not “gives” rights to the unborn through laws, while simultaneously they attack the Right for torturing people, even though the government doesn’t “give” them rights. To this one of my friends forwarded this article. While it is very well written, it has several holes and invalid propositions. However, my question is about the historical discussion in part 3 of the article. The history he cites seems quite dubious, since there are no reference I can’t check it and it seems New Atheists take pride in getting history wrong, especially when it comes to the Church. So, do you know if his history is accurate or not? Thanks.

I’m no expert on the history of Christian opinion about abortion, but I do know that Sagan and Druyan conveniently gloss over the fact that, homicide or not, Christian authorities considered any attempt to end a pregnancy a grave sin. The old lie that St. Thomas thought abortion fine until the 40th day is just that: a lie.

And you are right, of course. The state does not give us rights. God does. The state’s job is simply to protect the rights that are proper to us as creatures made in the image of God. This is why both abortion and torture apologists are doing the work of Satan when they argue that this or that class of human being has no “right” not to be killed or tortured merely because the US gov’t does not consider them citizens. Fundamental human rights do not come from the US gov’t. They come from God. If a state does not recognize those rights, more’s the pity for the state, for God does and will judge state actors who trample those rights. Harry Blackmun and Dick Cheney will have much to answer for.