Love for a pregnant woman, love for her child, and love for the father of that child.
By Maria Gallagher, Legislative Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation
Editor’s note. November is National Adoption Month. This will be the first of many adoption stories this month.
I will never forget an experience I had when I was one of the coordinators of a pro-life group at my church.
The church contacted me at work one day because of a young woman who had recently joined the congregation.
The teenager had moved from the southern part of the United States up north to stay with her aunt. She was pregnant, and she wanted to place her child for adoption.
When I called her, she expressed exasperation that no one could seem to help her find a way to locate an adoptive family for her baby. She was convinced that this was the right decision for her child and for herself, yet she was encountering closed door after closed door.
As it so happened, I knew of a wonderful young couple who wanted to expand their family through adoption. I connected the woman with the couple’s adoption attorney.
Because the couple had recently adopted a baby not long before, they were legally prohibited from adopting another child. However, they and the adoption attorney reached out in love to the young woman, and she was able to find another family to adopt her child.
A number of things struck me about this experience. One was the incredible courage and fortitude shown by the teenager, who was determined to find a loving family to raise her baby. The second was the help that people were willing to offer to a teenager in need—once they knew about her.
A third epiphany was that a pregnant woman may turn to her church to provide support and guidance. It’s important for churches to be prepared to help women facing unexpected pregnancies, whether those mothers choose to parent their children or place their children for adoption.
It was certainly one of the highlights of my life to play a small role in bringing a family together. I was also humbled by the fact that this brave teenager would turn to me to assist her in her time of need.
The best argument against abortion is love—love for a pregnant woman, love for her child, and love for the father of that child. The more we are able to showcase the devotion the pro-life movement holds for people of all ages and at all stages of life, the better able we are to counter abortion culture with a culture of embracing love.
Adoption is a valid, loving, and workable alternative to abortion. Let’s celebrate it, the mothers who choose it, and the families who welcome children into their homes with open, loving arms.