The requirement that unborn human beings are not equal to us and specific criteria are chosen to ensure that desired result is achieved, then we have run into the problem of ad hoc reasoning.

Instead of shouldering the responsibility of changing someone’s mind, our attitude in conversations can shift to being thankful for the part we can play in this person’s life in the time we have to speak with them.

The events, circumstances, and personal experiences that influence people’s views on abortion are deep, complex, sometimes rooted in trauma and other very painful experiences, and are held onto because changing their view means relinquishing some aspect of control over something intensely personal: their body. Understanding that should lead us to be careful with how we communicate about abortion in general.