Noemie Emery’s proposal to shift the grounds of opposition to legalized abortion from changing laws to moral suasion is a clever attempt to broaden the Republican voter base. But it is naive and constitutes a weakening of the party’s moral stance.
Does Emery really think moral suasion has not been used in the pro-life crusade to outlaw abortions? Does she believe pro-choice advocates are unaware that the premeditated killing of innocent unborn human life constitutes a serious moral problem? We might just as well abolish all laws against premeditated murder and depend on moral suasion to save lives. How absurd.
Most people will not heed mere persuasion when their selfish desires are at stake. Even public legal pressure and risk of punishment will not deter many intent on abandoning their moral responsibility to care for the human results of their sexual choices. Both moral suasion and unrelenting campaigns to change laws must go forward if we are to reduce the 1.5 million annual murders of the innocent. What’s more, a truly moral Republican party will be a winning one.
ROBERT L. CLEATH, ARROYO GRANDE, CA
