Let me conclude by reminding you what the opponents of legalized abortion regard as the major evil: the introduction into our society of the principle of selective killing; the introduction and approval of the principle that the end justifies the means, that one may kill human life innocent of any crime in order to save the life of those already existing. This, they say, is the most important implication of legalizing abortion. If today, we permit the killing of those who are a burden because they are in an early stage of development and not yet born, then to-morrow, we will permit the killing of those who are a burden because they are in a late stage of life and no longer of any use.
I would also add, and this should be among the principle objections to abortion: that some human beings are equal, and some are not.
Some human beings have the legal protection of the law. And some do not.
Some human beings are worthy of consideration. And some are not.
Some human beings are worthy by virtue of being healthy (i.e. not deformed) and some are not.
We often framed abortion as a question of morality and the law.
It's not a morality issue, per se.
It's a human rights issue. All human beings are equal. All should be recognized and legally protected under the law.
