Ray Ciervo Ministries

Rick Warren has risen to national and international popularity as Pastor of Saddleback church and his “Purpose Driven” books. Last week he interviewed both presidential candidates and that interview was “aired” on national news programs. In reviewing the interview I was troubled, as many were, with Barak Obama’s response to the question, “At what point does a baby get human rights, in your view?” Many people focused in on his statement that the answer is “above his pay grade.” That is troubling enough, but his next statement is even more troubling. Wanting to give him a fair shake, I watched the interview several times to get his full answer. The more you review his answers, watch his body language and then summarize them together - it doesn’t look good.

He stated he is “pro-choice, and does believe in Roe Vs Wade,” and didn’t come to that decision lightly. First he stated that this a “moral and ethical issue,” which didn’t really reveal anything. He mentioned he came to his decision, [stated above] not because he is pro-abortion, but because women don’t come to the decision of abortion casually, but come to this decision in profound ways (?!) in consultation with their pastors, spouses, doctors and family members. He then stated that we need to find ways to limit the amount of abortions. My question would be “Why?” If it is okay to have an abortion after you consider it in profound ways, why limit them? Isn’t it ethical to do so after struggling with the choice?

Then when asked has he ever done anything by way of voting in order to limit abortions he stated, “I am in favor of limits of late term abortions if there is a provision for women’s safety.” Dodging the question, equivocating on abortion, this is a planned stepping stone. Not a good one, but a planned response.

What is troubling about Obama’s responses is not only that he was visibly uncomfortable with the questions, but it is clear he doesn’t know how to make an ethical decision. I state this because the question posed to him was “At what point does a baby get human rights?” and he then went on to give an answer that because women struggle with getting an abortion and do so in profound ways, it’s perfectly okay for them to have an abortion. He never suggested how consultation with your pastor, spouse, doctor, and family is profound. He begged the question concerning that. But he did come out and reveal he believes it is more ethical for a woman to have an abortion because they struggle with the decision than to afford an unborn child human rights.

In other words, what Obama said is that it is more ethical to consult profoundly and then  decide to kill your unborn child than to afford that unborn child human rights, the right to life. This is unsound reasoning; in fact it is irrational. Unless of course, he was answering the question that he doesn’t believe the unborn have human rights. 

Let me state plainly, I believe abortion is murder as it is the willful taking (killing) of innocent human life. That is the definition of murder. The unborn are unprotected by the law of our land according to Roe Vs Wade. Obama then tried to sling some mud on President Bush by saying that he (Obama) is for limiting abortion, something that hasn’t happened under a pro-life president. The answer to that is simple: It is still legal to murder unborn children and members of congress have done nothing to change that. Because we have a “pro-life” president doesn’t mean people will choose to have fewer abortions. As I understand the legal process, the president doesn’t propose legislative action, congress does. 

In making an ethical choice one must choose the higher road and the protection of innocent human life is higher than the inconvenience of an unwanted pregnancy. In this case, profound consultation ought to consider the unborn human within the womb who cannot defend nor speak for himself.

 If Obama cannot make the simple distinction in this ethical decision, how will he fare in other difficult ethical distinctions?

So, when considering what a president should do in having to make ethical decisions, remember that Mr. Obama failed this one. He attempted to put a new twist on pro-abortion positions, but only landed on the same ground. He supported his parties’ position. This is troubling no matter how you look at it.