The Issue No One Is Talking About in Alabama’s New Abortion Law

 A few weeks ago, Alabama’s Governor, Kay Ivey, signed the nation’s most restrictive anti-abortion bill into a law potentially punishing doctors who perform abortions with life in prison.[Governor Ivey defended the law stating: “This legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians’ deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God.”[2]

Everyone wants to talk about the rights of unborn children today. Why is there little discussion about defending the rights of the children who are born as a result of unwanted pregnancies?

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My dad, as a baby, and my two aunts shortly after being adopted from foster care.

In 2017, more than 690,000 children spent time in foster care in the United States. Right now, there are 107,918 foster children eligible and waiting to be adopted. My dad and two aunts used to be part of that statistic.

If we truly believe each person is “a sacred gift from God,” as Governor Ivey said. Then why aren’t we talking about defending these children? Only 2% of Americans adopt. Among Christians the number rises to 5%.

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Brothers and sisters, we have to do better.
   
God calls us to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed” (Pro. 31:8 NLT). We need to start defending children trapped within the foster care system seeking a safe, loving and sometimes permanent homes.

• 71% of  foster care youth will become pregnant by age 19.
  
• 46.5% of foster care youth are incarcerated within 2 years of "aging out." 
• 80% of domestic child sex trafficking victims are foster youth.
• 31% of foster care youth become homeless after age 18.
  

https://www.childrensrights.org/newsroom/media-kit/

If we truly believe every living human reflects the image of God then we must act on behalf of all people.

Seeing the image of God in people know and care about can be easy, but God does not limit Himself to just our family, or even a certain ethnicity, socioeconomic group or nationality. He made all of humanity in His image—even those we ignore  (Gen. 1:26-27 NLT).

The gospel of Luke puts it this way: “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! ...You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate” (Luke 6:32-33, 36 NLT).[1]

Today, how can you show all people you believe they are valued and a gift from God? Lets start by addressing the rights of the born just as much as the unborn.

As the daughter of a child who was adopted through the foster care system, I have witnessed a family “(defending) the cause of orphans” (Isa. 1:17 NLT) and it is beautiful. I invite you to join me.

Together We Rise - Support Foster Care Children

Considering Foster Care or Adoption - The Mentor Network

SOURCES
https://adoptionnetwork.com/adoption-statistics

https://www.childrensrights.org/newsroom/fact-sheets/foster-care/

https://www.barna.com/research/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-adoption/

Caroline Kelly, CNN. "Alabama Governor Signs Nation's Most Restrictive Anti-Abortion Bill Into Law". CNN, Last modified 2019. https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/15/politics/alabama-governor-signs-bill/index.html.
 
Carson, D. A. NIV Zondervan Study Bible: Built on the Truth of Scripture and Centered on the Gospel Message. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2015.

Holy Bible: English Standard Version, Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2011.

Kelly, Caroline. CNN. "Alabama Governor Signs Nation's Most Restrictive Anti-Abortion Bill Into Law". CNN, Last modified 2019. https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/15/politics/alabama-governor-signs-bill/index.html.

Life Application Study Bible, Personal Size NLT: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub, 2007.

"Meet Alabama's Waiting Children". Adoptuskids.Org, Last modified 2019.
https://www.adoptuskids.org/states/al/browse.aspx.
 
Walton, John H. Genesis. The NIV Application Commentary. From Biblical Text-- to
Contemporary Life. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan Academic, 2001. http://search.ebscohost.com.dtl.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1524721&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author (Britton Lynn) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Britton Lynn's employer, church or diocese.