"How Many Babies Have The Pro-lifers Adopted?"

In discussing abortion with those opposed to the pro-life position, the adoption issue is often brought up but not always by pro-lifers. The question that pro-choicers ask is: "How many babies have you adopted? If you don't want abortion to occur, then the pro-lifers should adopt the babies." Of course, their real motive is not to find out how many babies pro-lifers have adopted; it's just an ad hominem attack. They use the common method of attacking the person making the claim instead of discussing the issue at hand. It's just another example of distraction used to avoid talking about what the unborn baby actually is.


How does one respond to the adoption question espoused by the pro-choicer? The pro-lifer's initial response could possibly be one that surprises them. "I'm glad you brought up the adoption subject. I think we both could agree that adoption is a great solution to someone who doesn't want their child." This may help diffuse a possible confrontational atmosphere. Then the following could be added:
What if someone stated: "I will kill my two-year-old unless you adopt it." If you don't adopt the child, it doesn't give the parent the right to kill it.

Pro-life author Francis Beckwith states the fallacy of the pro-choice adoption question: The fact that a person during Hitler's reign was not willing to hide Jews in his home does not mean he cannot correctly say that the Holocaust was evil and should never happen again.

Unless I am willing to marry my neighbor's wife, I cannot prevent her husband from beating her.

Unless I am willing to adopt my neighbor's daughter, I cannot prevent her mother from abusing her.*

They may say that those examples are different because you're talking about people already born. Then, of course, the conversation can be steered back to talking about the unborn baby.

Before ending the conversation, there are a couple more points that are related to this topic. The whole argument could be reversed and placed at the feet of the pro-choice advocate. You could tell them that their argument is equivalent to you asking: How many pro-choice individuals and organizations assist the woman and her baby if she "chooses" to keep the baby? Since the pro-choice movement believes in "choice," shouldn't they be financially and emotionally supporting the struggling woman who chose not to abort the baby? Also, there are numerous pro-lifers who do adopt children, work with struggling mothers, and do a wide variety of work to assist mothers and babies. Pro-life employees and volunteers assist at hundreds of pregnancy clinics and other organizations throughout the United States.

Finally, the subject of having a better adoption system may be something you both agree on. Most feel that the system needs to be much more streamlined and cheaper. Also, guide them to adoption sites such as www.adoption.com or other sites concerning adoption.

*Francis Beckwith, Politically Correct Death, 1993, Baker Books