Trudeau’s Defence of Abortion is a Fail—Again

 

Trudeau’s Defence of Abortion is a Fail—Again

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s impromptu defence of abortion (a week or so ago, in a now viral video) was an embarrassment to thinking Canadians. I gave it a grade of F. For my reasons, see here and here. 

Earlier today (Saturday, April 22, 2023), Trudeau posted a short video (1.5 minutes) on his official Facebook page to clarify his abortion-choice position. 

The embarrassment continues. Another F. 

Let’s look at Trudeau’s clarification. Then let’s assess. 

Trudeau’s clarification 

Here is the crucial text from Trudeau’s new video: 

[O]ur government will always stand up and take action to protect access to reproductive health services…. We’re working with partners across the country to ensure better access to safe and inclusive reproductive health services. … With attacks on reproductive rights around the world, it’s really important that we not take things for granted; and we continue to stand up unequivocally. So let me be very clear. This government will never tell a woman what to do with her body. We are unequivocally and proudly pro-choice and always will be. 

Assessment 

There are two serious problems with Trudeau’s “clarification.” 

First, in the context of abortion, the issue is not merely about telling a woman what to do with her body. In the context of abortion there are two bodies, not just the woman’s body. 

The fact is that the unborn baby is not the woman’s body. It’s the child’s body. And abortion destroys the child’s body. And whenever someone chooses to destroy another human body, government has a legitimate interest. 

Second, to justify abortion-choice in terms of “reproductive health services” and “reproductive rights” is a deceptive abuse of language. 

Reproduction, i.e., the creation of a child (pre-natal human being/person) conceived via sex, occurs BEFORE abortion takes place. Reproductive freedom and rights are exercised BEFORE abortion takes place. 

The late Michael Bauman, Professor of Theology and Culture at Hillsdale College, observes: 

When pro-choicers have unforced sex, they are choosing. That is freedom of choice. When they decide to kill the child conceived during that sexual encounter, that is freedom from choice. They chose; now they want to be free from the consequences of that choice, even if someone has to die. 

In other words, abortion is not a reproductive health service. And justifying abortion in terms of reproductive rights and freedom is a ruse. 

Final grade: F. 

 

Hendrik van der Breggen, PhD, is a retired philosophy professor and author of the book Untangling Popular Pro-Choice Arguments: Critical Thinking about Abortion.

For additional thought 

Is abortion really ‘essential health care’? Social and economic problems require social and economic solutions, not the killing of children.