Life is a miracle, plain and simple. From the moment a child is conceived, an extraordinary process begins—a unique set of DNA is created, a tiny heart starts beating, a distinct set of fingerprints forms, and a one-of-a-kind person takes shape. It’s a process that fills me with awe every time I think about it.
Scientifically, at the moment of conception, a new human life begins—genetically distinct, with a heartbeat and DNA unlike any other. It’s not a matter of debate; it’s a biological truth. And yet, in our world today, abortion is often seen as just another choice, a way to solve a problem.
The values I once embraced as a Unitarian Universalist have shaped my beliefs on many issues, but as my faith deepened, I came to see abortion as more than just a choice—it became about protecting life at all stages, a perspective I now hold as a Christian.
My belief in the value of all of God’s creations shapes my views on the sanctity of life and compels me to advocate for the vulnerable, including those yet to be born.
I know this is a sensitive topic, and I want to approach it with the compassion and openness that Unitarian Universalism encourages—not as judgment, but as a heartfelt plea grounded in the values that once guided me.
Unitarian Universalist’s First Principle — We believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
The inherent worth and dignity of every person. This is the bedrock of the faith. For awhile, growing up, it was the only one I could recite to people who asked what we, as UU’s, believed. It is a reminder that every human being has value, no matter who they are or where they come from.
Back then, I saw the unborn as just potential. Now, I see that tiny, growing life inside a mother’s womb as a human with potential—a future child, a future adult, a future friend, artist, teacher, or dreamer. It’s not just a clump of cells; it’s a life with worth I once overlooked.
When abortion ends that life, I wonder how I ever thought dignity could be set aside. That’s not the First Principle I know now—it calls me to see the worth in every person, even to those who haven’t taken their first breath yet.
I know what some might say: a woman’s right to choose is about her autonomy, her body, her future. I empathize with women facing unplanned pregnancies, but justice and compassion, as UU values, urge us to support both mother and child, not end a life.
We don’t allow parents to neglect or harm their born children because they are inconvenient or difficult to care for. Why does that principle shift before birth?
If a newborn requires constant care, financial resources, and emotional investment, we don’t say their life is optional based on the burden they bring. That same child, just weeks earlier in the womb, is no less human, no less valuable. The need for support doesn’t justify ending a life—it calls us to step up and help.
Unitarian Universalist’s Second Principle — “We believe in justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.”
As a young UU, I thought compassion favored choice. Now, I see it must extend to the most vulnerable—the unborn, another life in this equation who has no voice, no way to speak up for themselves.
They’re entirely dependent on us to affirm their right to exist. Compassion, to my old self, was just for the mother; now, I see it’s for both lives.
To me, intentionally ending that life is never justified, no matter the circumstances. Maybe instead of abortion, we can dream of a world where mothers and children are fully supported—through healthcare, childcare, education, and community. That’s the kind of justice I’m called to build.
Unitarian Universalist’s Seventh Principle — “We believe in respect for the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part.”
As a UU, I was taught how everything is connected, how we’re all part of something bigger. I cared about protecting the environment, ecosystems, and endangered species—all as part of the interdependent web of existence.
But what about human life in its earliest moments? Now, I see that life woven into the web. If we grieve when a species goes extinct or when a tree is cut down unnecessarily, how much more should we pause when considering the loss of a human life?
Abortion, to my old self, felt like a neutral act; now, I see abortion as more than the ending of one life, but snipping away an entire thread of the human family—a child who could have lit up our shared future. That loss stings when I think of all that potential unbloomed.
I want to be real here: I’m not here to point fingers or pile on guilt. Life is messy, and the reasons someone might consider abortion are often gut-wrenching.
I’m sure I have friends and family members who have wrestled with unplanned pregnancies, even if I wasn’t aware of it at the time—the fear, the doubt, the overwhelming weight of it all. But I’ve also witnessed the incredible joy that comes when a child is given a chance.
I think of stories I’ve heard—of women who chose to keep their children, despite the initial fear and uncertainty, and later realized how much that choice changed their lives in the most unexpected ways. These stories remind me that there’s always another way, a path that values both the mother and the child.
This isn’t about politics for me. It’s about life—precious, irreplaceable life. It’s about seeing every person, born or unborn, as part of our shared humanity.
The principles I learned as a Unitarian Universalist call us to cherish that, to protect it, and to shape a world where every life is celebrated.
Psalm 139:13-14 — “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
Final Thought:
Each life, from its very first moment, is intricately and purposefully created. Abortion, in my heart, doesn’t fit into that vision. Instead, let’s hold hands and create alternatives—ensuring mothers have the support they need, empowering families, and treasuring the miracle of life in all its forms.
That’s my plea, not from a place of judgment, but from a deep love for the values I once held and the lives we’re here to nurture.
How About You?
How do we honor both a woman’s autonomy and the life she carries?
What would it take to make every pregnancy a supported one?
Can our compassion embrace both the born and the unborn?
If you or someone you know is facing an unplanned pregnancy or seeking support, these organizations offer compassionate care and real solutions—you’re not alone.
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Pregnancy Support & Alternatives to Abortion
- Option Line (optionline.org) – 24/7 chat and hotline connecting women to local pregnancy centers.
- Standing With You (standingwithyou.org) – Helps pregnant and parenting students find resources.
- Heartbeat International (heartbeatinternational.org) – Network of pregnancy help organizations worldwide.
- Embrace Grace (embracegrace.com) – Church-based support for single moms choosing life.
Adoption & Parenting Support
- BraveLove (bravelove.org) – Promotes adoption as a loving option.
- Bethany Christian Services (bethany.org) – Adoption and family support services.
- National Safe Haven Alliance (nationalsafehavenalliance.org) – Information on safe haven laws for mothers in crisis.
Holistic Family & Community Care
- Human Coalition (humancoalition.org) – Pro-woman, pro-child support services.
- Let Them Live (letthemlive.org) – Financial assistance for women considering abortion due to hardship.
- Catholic Charities (catholiccharitiesusa.org) – Provides food, housing, and family assistance.
Let me know what you think.