By DAVID BIRKDALE
COLUMNIST

In political discourse, pro-choice supporters often use a Guttmacher Institute study that shows a correlation between abortion legalization and a decrease in abortions in order to argue that pro-life activists ought to celebrate the legalization of abortion, as it leads to abortions becoming, essentially, “legal, safe and rare.” I think this claim, however, raises deeper questions about laws and their purpose.

To legalize something unjust for the sake of curbing it strikes at the very legitimacy of law (and pro-life activists do indeed view abortion as unjust). This vision of law is basically utilitarian, not particularly concerned with the means, as long as the end makes the greatest number of people happy.

But shouldn’t laws reflect something more basic, like the promotion of justice, rather than a quirk of statistics? Suppose we found that legalizing theft actually decreased the amount of theft in this country. Something in us would probably feel uncomfortable with legalizing theft, even with this knowledge. Why? I suggest that it is because we think there ought to be a relation between law and justice. Legalized abortion denies not only life but also justice to its victims: not only the child, but also the many mothers who are pressured or even coerced into abortions in a society that often will not support them.

But, this brings out another important point: the pro-life movement, if it is to promote the dignity of the unborn, must genuinely support mothers in difficult situations. The legal battle can never be the entirety of the pro-life movement. Anyone involved in the movement can attest to the degree to which support for mothers has become a priority. In order to increase support for mothers Fordham Respect For Life, for instance, organizes a number of collections of supplies desperately needed by mothers in the community.

For years, the club has been working to get resources for parents on campus. Simple things, like diaper-changing stations, can send a message that parents are supported and make a world of difference. Yet, we only have two installed on the whole campus. Georgetown University actually has a daycare center for children of students, staff and faculty, so does Notre Dame.

Why is Fordham so far behind in this regard? Do we just preemptively solve the problem with unusually effective pregnancy prevention?

I doubt it. If we want to minimize abortion, the answer, is not a simple legal one decided by a government. We must be willing to offer concrete support and make resources available to mothers in need.

In the interest of full disclosure, David Birkdale serves as the secretary of  Fordham Respect for Life.