There are people with consistent pro-life positions, and while I don't think the belief makes them worthy of exile from society I also don't think they ameliorate the forced-birth movement one bit because they clearly have no power in it.
I think that you can hold the viewpoint as internally consistent but also not advocate for its promulgation by state force upon those who do not share those religious convictions.
The question is, at which point in this process do you get counted as 'pro-life'?
Here's the thing: You don't get to call yourself 'pro life' and then hedge and say it shouldn't be enforced. Then you aren't pro life. Pro life is a policy position about reproductive health. If you say you're pro-life, you're endorsing that policy regime. I
At that point, your pro-lifery is an affect, its a signal. It can't mean nothing, otherwise why would you do it. So what could it possibly mean, then? What on earth could it possibly be communicating, other than ignorance of what 'pro-life' even fucking is as a term?
Nothing good
Yes, which is why I use the term "forced-birth" to refer to the policy position. I know people who hold the consistent pro-life position in terms of morality but who advocate for a woman's right to choose in policy because they recognize the practical issues with trying to compel one answer here.
I mean, how do you distinguish "this thing you want is evil, but I don't want the state trying to make you avoid evil" from "abortion isn't evil and we should encourage people to make the choice that's best for them"?
I mean the government shouldn’t stop you from doing most things that are evil, I think most people probably agree with this regardless of their concept of what evil is.
That said if you think abortion is *murder* it’s pretty hard not to support severely criminalizing it. Like, it’s murder.
I mean, yes.
And generally speaking, the "consistent" pro-life position is summarized as opposition to the death penalty, abortion, and euthanasia coupled with supporting robust public health initiatives and a social support net.
Do I feel their belief warrants the exile? Nah. Thing is: most of them are willing to make their own "lesser of two evils" judgment and side with the forced birth crowd all the same. That? Yeah, I'm comfortable exiling them for that.
I have a hard time crediting anyone within the forced-birth movement as having a consistent pro-life position, given how obviously anti-life the idea of state intervention in pregnancy is in any conceivable real-world scenario.
