I hadn’t bothered finding out if my boyfriend was pro-life until we had been dating a few weeks; I had just foolishly assumed he was. I thought of letting the issue go, but then my own boyfriend told me that if I ever got pregnant, he would either convince me to get an abortion or break up with me. I knew that I couldn’t remain silent. By the grace of God, I was able to talk to him. He didn’t mean those things and was actually scared to defend his views. The bigger problem was that he didn’t know what other view he could have as an 18 year old male.
The pro-life movement is lacking key members. There are those who are afraid to stand up for what they believe in, others who don’t know about the movement, and some who feel they don’t have a say because they are young or a man. People like who my boyfriend used to be show us that there are still people who feel they have no other option but to be pro choice. I find it ridiculous, but also sad.
We need to let our youth know that they needn’t be afraid to be pro-life—that, in fact, everyone has a right to be pro-life because the abortion affects everyone. I have realized that we need to engage potential fellow pro-lifers and continue to encourage them. When my boyfriend gets embarrassed, I tell him not to be embarrassed for having been pro-choice, but to be proud for being pro-life.
I’m always touched to hear of conversions in the movement, but I never thought I could directly change hearts and minds. I was proved wrong with my boyfriend, and now I believe anyone can have an impact.
After my boyfriend’s conversion, while clutching my rosary beads and a sign tight in my hand on a windy day, I was reminded that fellowship is so important. Even when such an evil like abortion exists, together, we still have the strength to fight.
That windy day was a Saturday afternoon outside the Planned Parenthood Federation of America in New York City. Towards the end, some of us were asked to explain more about Planned Parenthood to the two youngest pro lifers there, aged 12 and 13.
I didn’t have a problem with Planned Parenthood until my freshman year of college when I learned of their lies and exploits. I thought that if we could get these young women hooked on the movement five or six years before I was hooked, our efforts were working!
I threw in my own advice when I told these girls to make sure to have pro-life boyfriends. A few months ago, I didn’t know I would be using my personal testimony, but I’m glad I have it as a story to share if it means relating to young people.
God has taught me as I become more actively pro-life that we must not be afraid to share our convictions. We must also encourage our young people from an earlier age to be pro-life and to be so with courage and strength.
