There is a growing and alarming twist in the Pro-Choice narrative… and it’s about to spread like wildfire. Up until very recently, despite distorting the science and procedural facts of abortion by controlling the language used, abortion proponents have more or less left morality alone. In a post-Christian society, it’s been enough to wave the banner or progressivism and women’s rights… but they can never quite seem to fully eradicate the buzz of pesky Christians claiming that abortion is evil.
Enter stage left: Willie J. Parker, M.D. As one of the last abortion providers in the state of Mississippi, Parker has been identified as a sort of moral crusader for abortion for the past few years giving interviews and even sermons about his conversion from pro-life views. And he’s now published a book: Life’s Work: a Moral Argument for Choice.
“The protesters say they’re opposed to abortion because they’re Christian,” Parker says. “It’s hard for them to accept that I do abortions because I’m a Christian.”
This book is going to used as a serious blow to pro-lifers who currently dominate the spiritual landscape relatively unchallenged. Parker is both a doctor and a ‘Christian’, so the Appeal to Authority fallacy will be in full effect. In his recent interview with New York Times writer Ana Marie Cox, Dr. Parker discussed why he has converted to the view that providing abortions is compatible with his faith. As is common with the pro-choice crowd, he shows off a bit of verbal gymnastics designed to woo readers with his intelligence rather than incite them to critical thinking. It’s easy to justify doing abortions when you convince yourself that the baby is not a person. Parker has coined a fairly new phrase that I’m certain does not have a long history in Ethics 101 classes across America: “A fetus is not a person; it’s a human entity.” Yes, he tells himself he is not ending a “life”… but an abstract idea that has yet to mature into reality. And his professional and spiritual credibility will pass this nonsense off as fact.
See, Willie J. Parker is about to have a cult following. He peddles himself as a Christian savior to women (from the book’s description: “He soon thereafter traded in his private practice and his penthouse apartment in Hawaii for the life of an itinerant abortion provider, focusing most recently on women in the Deep South.”). And when Life’s Work releases in April, I guarantee it’ll become a bestseller. By having the testimony of a bona fide “Christian” abortion provider, the Pro-Choice movement will be able to claim some incredible traction in the national debate. Finally, they’ll have a moral response to Christians who claim that all life should be defended! Truly it’s terrifying. And it’s all possible with the sweet anesthetic of Parker’s ‘verbicaine’, dulling our senses to the reality that is actually taking place:
“I can reside in the serenity of knowing that it is always right to help someone else.”
And with all things cloaking the abortion industry, critical thinking is not encouraged to dismantle what sounds undeniably good in this statement. Frankly, most people aren’t particularly interested in evaluating the logic; we are a people rooted in feelings and impulses, so if something sounds good, that’s good enough… especially if you can throw some professional/spiritual credentials behind it. And for Willie J. Parker and his pocketbook, this is all very good news indeed.