Respect Life Essay Contest Winners - 2025
James Seger
First Place, Junior Division
Grade 8 - Homeschool
“You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13
Imagine yourself in your mother’s womb. You’re a pure, innocent child, cherished by the creator, a symbol of love. Suddenly, your life is forcefully taken away, and all the beauty of your existence is lost, though you never had the chance to know what was happening. Abortion is the most controversial topic in modern-day. Is the baby really alive? Is it worth protecting? What if I can’t support the baby? I will answer those questions and make abortion unthinkable under all circumstances.
Many people argue the embryo is not a living being, but that is completely false. The moment the sperm fertilizes the egg, life is created. The heart begins to beat, further proving its humanity. It has its own unique DNA, separate from the mother and father, and is verifiably a new human life. “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.” Psalm 139:13-14.
In my opinion, the most fascinating phase of the pregnancy is the first trimester as it is when the embryo and soul are formed. From the point of conception, the baby begins to grow and in the first four weeks the neural tube (which becomes the brain and spinal cord), heart, digestive system, and circulatory system form. In the next ten weeks, the created life develops a face, fingers, and toes, growing closer to the image of a fully-formed child. Usually, this is when the first ultrasound takes place.
Ultrasounds are a key step in proving the humanity of an unborn child. A 2018 study by the Pregnancy Resource Center in Maryville, Tennessee, showed that sixty-eight percent of women who had an ultrasound changed their mind on aborting the baby. This study shows that many women initially treat the baby as an object or problem rather than a human. Seeing the body and movement reminds a mother that her baby is already growing within her, created by God with purpose and dignity. For a woman who is uncertain, this glimpse of her child can awaken a deep sense of realization, responsibility, and love that leads her to choose life.
Some argue that a woman’s right to bodily autonomy supersedes the embryo’s right to life especially in cases of abuse. While bodily autonomy is a consideration, the child still has its own DNA and body, proving that it deserves to live. In these cases of abuse, support systems such as counseling and adoption can provide alternatives that honor both the mother’s trauma and the child’s life.
There is so much support for women struggling to choose life! Pregnancy centers provide counseling, clothes, food, and parenting classes. Beyond pregnancy centers, there are financial resources, adoption agencies, and community organizations that can assist with healthcare, housing, and even job placement to ensure women have the support they need as mothers. As I wrote this I realized people, including myself, take life for granted at times. Remember that we are all created by God, and even the tiniest human is a precious life with inherent dignity and purpose. From the moment of conception, every baby is a unique creation, fearfully and wonderfully made, deserving of love, protection, and the chance to fulfill the plan that God has for them. Choose life!
First Place, Junior Division
Grade 8 - Homeschool
“You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13
Imagine yourself in your mother’s womb. You’re a pure, innocent child, cherished by the creator, a symbol of love. Suddenly, your life is forcefully taken away, and all the beauty of your existence is lost, though you never had the chance to know what was happening. Abortion is the most controversial topic in modern-day. Is the baby really alive? Is it worth protecting? What if I can’t support the baby? I will answer those questions and make abortion unthinkable under all circumstances.
Many people argue the embryo is not a living being, but that is completely false. The moment the sperm fertilizes the egg, life is created. The heart begins to beat, further proving its humanity. It has its own unique DNA, separate from the mother and father, and is verifiably a new human life. “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.” Psalm 139:13-14.
In my opinion, the most fascinating phase of the pregnancy is the first trimester as it is when the embryo and soul are formed. From the point of conception, the baby begins to grow and in the first four weeks the neural tube (which becomes the brain and spinal cord), heart, digestive system, and circulatory system form. In the next ten weeks, the created life develops a face, fingers, and toes, growing closer to the image of a fully-formed child. Usually, this is when the first ultrasound takes place.
Ultrasounds are a key step in proving the humanity of an unborn child. A 2018 study by the Pregnancy Resource Center in Maryville, Tennessee, showed that sixty-eight percent of women who had an ultrasound changed their mind on aborting the baby. This study shows that many women initially treat the baby as an object or problem rather than a human. Seeing the body and movement reminds a mother that her baby is already growing within her, created by God with purpose and dignity. For a woman who is uncertain, this glimpse of her child can awaken a deep sense of realization, responsibility, and love that leads her to choose life.
Some argue that a woman’s right to bodily autonomy supersedes the embryo’s right to life especially in cases of abuse. While bodily autonomy is a consideration, the child still has its own DNA and body, proving that it deserves to live. In these cases of abuse, support systems such as counseling and adoption can provide alternatives that honor both the mother’s trauma and the child’s life.
There is so much support for women struggling to choose life! Pregnancy centers provide counseling, clothes, food, and parenting classes. Beyond pregnancy centers, there are financial resources, adoption agencies, and community organizations that can assist with healthcare, housing, and even job placement to ensure women have the support they need as mothers. As I wrote this I realized people, including myself, take life for granted at times. Remember that we are all created by God, and even the tiniest human is a precious life with inherent dignity and purpose. From the moment of conception, every baby is a unique creation, fearfully and wonderfully made, deserving of love, protection, and the chance to fulfill the plan that God has for them. Choose life!
Lydia Brown
Second Place, Junior Division
Grade 7 - Homeschool
I am pro-life. But what do these special words actually mean? They mean pro-family, pro-baby, pro-woman. They mean helping pregnant women choose life for their baby over an abortion. They mean standing up for the voiceless, for the child in the womb that has no say in the matter of life and death. There are three points that we can educate women on about the topic of abortion.
We, as a pro-life people, can provide education regarding the life that a woman carries in her womb. Women deserve to know that they are carrying a baby instead of a clump of cells that the abortion doctors say. According to the Mayo Clinic, the baby's heart starts beating 5 weeks after conception. By 18 weeks, the baby can hear sounds, and by week 26, the baby can open its eyes.
It’s important to educate communities, especially women, regarding resources available for pregnant women. In unplanned pregnancies, women are scared and feel alone in the world. But pregnancy support groups can help women in their time of need by providing emotional support, and expert guidance on every matter of motherhood. Birthright, for example, is a resource that helps pregnant women by reassuring them and providing solutions to particular needs.
Finally, the community of women need to know the harmful effects of having an abortion. Although there are many harmful physical effects from an abortion, there are also many psychological consequences of an abortion that can be overlooked. According to an excerpt from the Elliot Institute's article: The Aftereffects of Abortion, abortions can cause depression, changes in sleep patterns, guilt, and regret. Women who have an abortion are susceptible to having these symptoms.
Every single baby is a miracle whose life begins at the moment of conception in the womb. In Jeremiah, God says, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Each child in the womb has a plan from God, that he created for only them. We should always stand up for the voiceless, for the child in the womb that has no say in the matter of living or abortion. Let’s try today and everyday to educate pregnant women regarding the life in their womb, available community help, and the risks of having an abortion.
Works Cited:
Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pr egnancy/art-20046767
The Aftereffects of Abortion https://www.jcrtl.org/post-abortion-syndrome.html
Second Place, Junior Division
Grade 7 - Homeschool
I am pro-life. But what do these special words actually mean? They mean pro-family, pro-baby, pro-woman. They mean helping pregnant women choose life for their baby over an abortion. They mean standing up for the voiceless, for the child in the womb that has no say in the matter of life and death. There are three points that we can educate women on about the topic of abortion.
We, as a pro-life people, can provide education regarding the life that a woman carries in her womb. Women deserve to know that they are carrying a baby instead of a clump of cells that the abortion doctors say. According to the Mayo Clinic, the baby's heart starts beating 5 weeks after conception. By 18 weeks, the baby can hear sounds, and by week 26, the baby can open its eyes.
It’s important to educate communities, especially women, regarding resources available for pregnant women. In unplanned pregnancies, women are scared and feel alone in the world. But pregnancy support groups can help women in their time of need by providing emotional support, and expert guidance on every matter of motherhood. Birthright, for example, is a resource that helps pregnant women by reassuring them and providing solutions to particular needs.
Finally, the community of women need to know the harmful effects of having an abortion. Although there are many harmful physical effects from an abortion, there are also many psychological consequences of an abortion that can be overlooked. According to an excerpt from the Elliot Institute's article: The Aftereffects of Abortion, abortions can cause depression, changes in sleep patterns, guilt, and regret. Women who have an abortion are susceptible to having these symptoms.
Every single baby is a miracle whose life begins at the moment of conception in the womb. In Jeremiah, God says, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Each child in the womb has a plan from God, that he created for only them. We should always stand up for the voiceless, for the child in the womb that has no say in the matter of living or abortion. Let’s try today and everyday to educate pregnant women regarding the life in their womb, available community help, and the risks of having an abortion.
Works Cited:
Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pr egnancy/art-20046767
The Aftereffects of Abortion https://www.jcrtl.org/post-abortion-syndrome.html
Ashlyn Bentler
Third Place, Junior Division
Grade 7 - Homeschool
Little Kicks and Big Changes
Every baby is an unrepeatable unique individual human being, and we will be following a baby in the journey of the second trimester. The baby is starting to grow rapidly and is getting his or her unique and beautiful features like little eyebrows, small amounts of hair, and sweet little eyelashes. In this trimester, the gender is also able to be seen on an ultrasound. The growing baby will also start moving, and through seventeen and twenty weeks the expecting mother will be able to feel quickening, which is small movements from the baby starting to move inside the mother’s womb. These movements create a gentle tapping feeling in the mother’s belly. This tapping can be reassuring and a comfort to the mother because it is a sign the little baby is moving, active, and growing. Around thirteen to sixteen weeks, the sweet little baby is about three to five inches long and around three to five ounces. The small growing baby can also start to suck his or her thumb and can make facial expressions. The baby can also start to move their legs and arms. From seventeen through twenty weeks, the baby's hearing also starts to develop, and the baby can hear the mother’s voice and may respond by gently kicking or moving around. Around this time the little baby will start to form an emotional connection to the mother, responding to the touch and sound of their Mommy. From twenty-one through twenty-six weeks, the baby develops taste buds. Eyebrows, eyelashes, and fingernails become more visible. The baby may also start to develop a regular pattern of sleeping and waking. The baby is about twelve to fourteen inches long and may weigh one to two pounds. The baby bump also starts to become more noticeable, and this is often fun and cute to experience. There are often troubles that come with being pregnant, but these are all just things that happen during the miracle of a pregnancy.
Third Place, Junior Division
Grade 7 - Homeschool
Little Kicks and Big Changes
Every baby is an unrepeatable unique individual human being, and we will be following a baby in the journey of the second trimester. The baby is starting to grow rapidly and is getting his or her unique and beautiful features like little eyebrows, small amounts of hair, and sweet little eyelashes. In this trimester, the gender is also able to be seen on an ultrasound. The growing baby will also start moving, and through seventeen and twenty weeks the expecting mother will be able to feel quickening, which is small movements from the baby starting to move inside the mother’s womb. These movements create a gentle tapping feeling in the mother’s belly. This tapping can be reassuring and a comfort to the mother because it is a sign the little baby is moving, active, and growing. Around thirteen to sixteen weeks, the sweet little baby is about three to five inches long and around three to five ounces. The small growing baby can also start to suck his or her thumb and can make facial expressions. The baby can also start to move their legs and arms. From seventeen through twenty weeks, the baby's hearing also starts to develop, and the baby can hear the mother’s voice and may respond by gently kicking or moving around. Around this time the little baby will start to form an emotional connection to the mother, responding to the touch and sound of their Mommy. From twenty-one through twenty-six weeks, the baby develops taste buds. Eyebrows, eyelashes, and fingernails become more visible. The baby may also start to develop a regular pattern of sleeping and waking. The baby is about twelve to fourteen inches long and may weigh one to two pounds. The baby bump also starts to become more noticeable, and this is often fun and cute to experience. There are often troubles that come with being pregnant, but these are all just things that happen during the miracle of a pregnancy.
Mary Hamilton
First Place, Senior Division
Grade 12 - Homeschool
Euthanasia is the direct and intentional killing of a handicapped, sick, or dying person. This is murder because a person’s life is deliberately ended while that person is either conscious or unconscious. This is different than when a person is not given extraordinary means of healthcare and dies. Extraordinary means are those which do not contribute to the overall cure of a dying person but would only prolong the suffering. This is a complicated topic, but the fact that euthanasia is the taking of an innocent life is not.
Euthanasia is a threat to human beings because by providing a seemingly “easy way out,” it denies the role of suffering in a person’s life. Because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, suffered and died on the Cross, our suffering has meaning. When we unite our suffering to His, He uses it for the good of our souls and those of others. Additionally, when we suffer with Christ in this life, we can have the hope of rising with Him, like He did on Easter Sunday, after our death. Suffering is not easy, and it is painful to see a person suffer, but it does not mean that a sick, dying, or handicapped person should escape it by euthanasia.
Euthanasia is also a threat to human beings because it denies the preciousness of every moment in a person’s life. Since God is the Author of Life, it is He alone Who has the right to take it away. We all will die, but we must trust that until God takes our life from us, we have a duty to live our lives to the fullest. While it might be hard and inconvenient to take care of a sick, dying, or handicapped person, this is no excuse to escape this responsibility through euthanasia. Moreover, when people in this condition accept their suffering in peace and serenity, they are a beautiful example to the rest of humanity. The sick, dying, and handicapped can teach us the dignity of life and the beauty of the human person no matter his or her condition. They can also teach us how important it is to bear, rather than hide or dull, our suffering for the good of ourselves and others.
In my community, I want to speak out against euthanasia, defend the vulnerable, and teach the value of every person by loving and caring for the handicapped, sick, and dying in a special way. These people deserve particular respect because their state in life is so vulnerable. I want to encourage them to entrust their sufferings to God. God has our whole lives in the palms of His loving hands, so if He takes away our physical strength, it may be to strengthen the spiritual life of our souls. Most importantly, I will continue to pray for an end to euthanasia and all anti-life practices. I will also pray for perseverance and trust for those tempted to resort to euthanasia.
First Place, Senior Division
Grade 12 - Homeschool
Euthanasia is the direct and intentional killing of a handicapped, sick, or dying person. This is murder because a person’s life is deliberately ended while that person is either conscious or unconscious. This is different than when a person is not given extraordinary means of healthcare and dies. Extraordinary means are those which do not contribute to the overall cure of a dying person but would only prolong the suffering. This is a complicated topic, but the fact that euthanasia is the taking of an innocent life is not.
Euthanasia is a threat to human beings because by providing a seemingly “easy way out,” it denies the role of suffering in a person’s life. Because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, suffered and died on the Cross, our suffering has meaning. When we unite our suffering to His, He uses it for the good of our souls and those of others. Additionally, when we suffer with Christ in this life, we can have the hope of rising with Him, like He did on Easter Sunday, after our death. Suffering is not easy, and it is painful to see a person suffer, but it does not mean that a sick, dying, or handicapped person should escape it by euthanasia.
Euthanasia is also a threat to human beings because it denies the preciousness of every moment in a person’s life. Since God is the Author of Life, it is He alone Who has the right to take it away. We all will die, but we must trust that until God takes our life from us, we have a duty to live our lives to the fullest. While it might be hard and inconvenient to take care of a sick, dying, or handicapped person, this is no excuse to escape this responsibility through euthanasia. Moreover, when people in this condition accept their suffering in peace and serenity, they are a beautiful example to the rest of humanity. The sick, dying, and handicapped can teach us the dignity of life and the beauty of the human person no matter his or her condition. They can also teach us how important it is to bear, rather than hide or dull, our suffering for the good of ourselves and others.
In my community, I want to speak out against euthanasia, defend the vulnerable, and teach the value of every person by loving and caring for the handicapped, sick, and dying in a special way. These people deserve particular respect because their state in life is so vulnerable. I want to encourage them to entrust their sufferings to God. God has our whole lives in the palms of His loving hands, so if He takes away our physical strength, it may be to strengthen the spiritual life of our souls. Most importantly, I will continue to pray for an end to euthanasia and all anti-life practices. I will also pray for perseverance and trust for those tempted to resort to euthanasia.
Andrew Brown
Second Place (tie), Senior Division
Grade 12 - Homeschool
Protecting Sacred Life Given by God
Abortion denies the human right of life given by God by terminating the life of the baby in the womb of the mother. The evil of abortion is devastating countless lives of the unborn. With open hearts, we need to step back and look at the damage being caused. Every human being, made in the image and likeness of God, deserves to be treated with the utmost love, respect, and dignity. It is important to know what abortion is, how it endangers those who are involved in the practice, and loving ways to speak for life in the most vulnerable stage.
Abortion ends a pregnancy by removing the embryo from the mothers womb. Some unfortunately think the embryo is not actually a human being which is a reason for having an abortion because it is inconvenient for mothers and they do not think they are causing much harm. However, life starts from the moment of conception until natural death. Ever since January 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade made abortion a constitutional right to women. Since then, millions and millions of babies have been aborted and the human right to life has been badly mistreated. However, on June 24, 2022, the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturned the ruling that was made back in 1973 and left the ability to ban abortion to the states. Life is still being mistreated but there has been tremendous progress in the elimination of abortion since Roe v. Wade. Abortion is a devastating act which kills life, but can also negatively affect the mother in a number of ways.
Abortion poses a huge threat to human beings, not just the baby, but the mother as well. The mother can experience physical effects such as bleeding and infection to name a few. These problems can increase especially in an unsafe abortion. The mother can undergo and experience emotional and psychological effects such as regret and depression. Having an abortion is an important decision and sometimes makes the mother ponder the after effects. For this reason, mothers should be offered help both before an abortion and after if she decides to have an abortion. Often mothers might feel like they have nowhere to turn to but to get an abortion. But this should not be the case. The call to action is extremely important and needs to take precedence so that the lives lost can decrease and one day can be reduced to zero.
The topic of abortion is an extremely delicate one, but it also needs to be understood and talked about in a sincere and loving way. I have participated in marches for life and have prayed in front of abortion clinics not because I am required to do so, but because I believe that no matter the circumstance, life should be defended and protected. However, another way that I can defend the vulnerable and the right to life is to set up a weekly club at my school to inform and teach students on the dignity and value that every single person has, and to have discussions on abortion. Each club meeting, there will be a small presentation of a mother who became pro-life after experiencing an abortion. After a short presentation, students will get the opportunity to break out into small group conversation sessions. By setting up this club, students for and against abortion can have the opportunity to bring up conversations that can enlighten those who have hardened their hearts or believe that abortion is a right that they should have, and can have a change of heart and to see more facts about abortion. Even if those who promote abortion who continue to hold their position, the club can still stir their thoughts and plant the seed so that one day, they might see the preciousness and dignity of all life.
The gift of life, bestowed by God, is the most precious and sacred gift that God has given to the world. Life should not be easily dispensable just because it is an inconvenience at the time. Rather, life needs to be lovingly protected and guarded, no matter what stage in life. With Roe v. Wade overturned, the states have the ability to prohibit abortion or permit it. Action is necessary and by taking small steps forward with God, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished. With steadfast prayer and thoughtful action, someday the act of abortion will become unthinkable and vanquished from the world, saving and preserving life.
Second Place (tie), Senior Division
Grade 12 - Homeschool
Protecting Sacred Life Given by God
Abortion denies the human right of life given by God by terminating the life of the baby in the womb of the mother. The evil of abortion is devastating countless lives of the unborn. With open hearts, we need to step back and look at the damage being caused. Every human being, made in the image and likeness of God, deserves to be treated with the utmost love, respect, and dignity. It is important to know what abortion is, how it endangers those who are involved in the practice, and loving ways to speak for life in the most vulnerable stage.
Abortion ends a pregnancy by removing the embryo from the mothers womb. Some unfortunately think the embryo is not actually a human being which is a reason for having an abortion because it is inconvenient for mothers and they do not think they are causing much harm. However, life starts from the moment of conception until natural death. Ever since January 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade made abortion a constitutional right to women. Since then, millions and millions of babies have been aborted and the human right to life has been badly mistreated. However, on June 24, 2022, the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturned the ruling that was made back in 1973 and left the ability to ban abortion to the states. Life is still being mistreated but there has been tremendous progress in the elimination of abortion since Roe v. Wade. Abortion is a devastating act which kills life, but can also negatively affect the mother in a number of ways.
Abortion poses a huge threat to human beings, not just the baby, but the mother as well. The mother can experience physical effects such as bleeding and infection to name a few. These problems can increase especially in an unsafe abortion. The mother can undergo and experience emotional and psychological effects such as regret and depression. Having an abortion is an important decision and sometimes makes the mother ponder the after effects. For this reason, mothers should be offered help both before an abortion and after if she decides to have an abortion. Often mothers might feel like they have nowhere to turn to but to get an abortion. But this should not be the case. The call to action is extremely important and needs to take precedence so that the lives lost can decrease and one day can be reduced to zero.
The topic of abortion is an extremely delicate one, but it also needs to be understood and talked about in a sincere and loving way. I have participated in marches for life and have prayed in front of abortion clinics not because I am required to do so, but because I believe that no matter the circumstance, life should be defended and protected. However, another way that I can defend the vulnerable and the right to life is to set up a weekly club at my school to inform and teach students on the dignity and value that every single person has, and to have discussions on abortion. Each club meeting, there will be a small presentation of a mother who became pro-life after experiencing an abortion. After a short presentation, students will get the opportunity to break out into small group conversation sessions. By setting up this club, students for and against abortion can have the opportunity to bring up conversations that can enlighten those who have hardened their hearts or believe that abortion is a right that they should have, and can have a change of heart and to see more facts about abortion. Even if those who promote abortion who continue to hold their position, the club can still stir their thoughts and plant the seed so that one day, they might see the preciousness and dignity of all life.
The gift of life, bestowed by God, is the most precious and sacred gift that God has given to the world. Life should not be easily dispensable just because it is an inconvenience at the time. Rather, life needs to be lovingly protected and guarded, no matter what stage in life. With Roe v. Wade overturned, the states have the ability to prohibit abortion or permit it. Action is necessary and by taking small steps forward with God, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished. With steadfast prayer and thoughtful action, someday the act of abortion will become unthinkable and vanquished from the world, saving and preserving life.
Caitlin Martin
Second Place (tie), Senior Division
Grade 12 - Regina High School
What is abortion? What is this issue in our world that too often divides our society, relationships, and even families? Why is there such a big rift between being pro-life or pro-choice? Abortion, by definition, is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy. It is an action taken such as consuming pills to create a hostile environment for the embryo causing it to die, or a surgical procedure such as using suction to remove the embryo from the uterus. Not only is abortion an action, but a conscious decision to end the life of another human being. According to the American College of Pediatricians, “The predominance of human biological research confirms that human life begins at conception—fertilization. At fertilization, the human being emerges as a whole, genetically distinct, individuated zygotic living human organism, a member of the species Homo sapiens, needing only the proper environment in order to grow and develop. The difference between the individual in its adult stage and in its zygotic stage is one of form, not nature.” A completely unique person, created in the image and likeness of God, is formed at the moment sperm meets egg. When the validity of life beginning at conception is not acknowledged, the value of the human being in the womb is not recognized and equated to the value of the mother. To be able to effectively care for the human in the womb along with the one carrying the child, acknowledgment of their human existence is the first step.
Abortion is an active threat to human beings in our world today, because millions of voiceless people are being disregarded and unaccounted for. Their inability to speak for themselves results in a fatal ending to their life. The denial of true human life in the womb by millions around the world is disheartening. Not only is abortion a threat, but it is an epidemic that causes divisions between partners, families, communities, and society as a whole. By practicing abortions, we are interfering with God’s ultimate plan for each individual’s life. Despite the extremely difficult and emotionally taxing circumstances many women are in when they choose to have an abortion, the answer to one tragedy, is not another tragedy. “What about rape?” some might ask, or “what about circumstances of incest?”. While these are unimaginable and horrible things that have happened to many women, I believe that the worth of a human being is not lessened by the sin of their father. A child conceived out of rape or incest is no less deserving of life than anyone else. And while I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like to be in that situation, I know that each of us was created out of love and with an equal amount of value as everyone else.
Speaking out against abortion is a hard thing to do. It is easier for me to sit behind my computer screen and type this essay, than it is for me to put myself in an opportunity to be judged for being pro-life by sharing my beliefs out loud. However, each of us holds a responsibility to use our voices for those who don’t have one. As I head to college next year, I am nervous to be challenged about my beliefs because I want to be able to defend them. I want to grow more confident in my ability to stand before others and share why I am proud to be pro-life. And while it is an intimidating thing to do, defending the vulnerable and teaching the value of every person can be practiced in many different ways. Maybe it’s answering questions about why I’m pro-life, maybe it’s praying publicly or privately for an end to abortion and guidance for all mothers considering an abortion, or maybe just simply opening the door for conversation about it. Abortion shouldn’t be a topic that creates divisions and hostility towards one another when brought up, it should be a discussion that is the stepping stone towards finding the best life possible for both the mother and her child.
Second Place (tie), Senior Division
Grade 12 - Regina High School
What is abortion? What is this issue in our world that too often divides our society, relationships, and even families? Why is there such a big rift between being pro-life or pro-choice? Abortion, by definition, is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy. It is an action taken such as consuming pills to create a hostile environment for the embryo causing it to die, or a surgical procedure such as using suction to remove the embryo from the uterus. Not only is abortion an action, but a conscious decision to end the life of another human being. According to the American College of Pediatricians, “The predominance of human biological research confirms that human life begins at conception—fertilization. At fertilization, the human being emerges as a whole, genetically distinct, individuated zygotic living human organism, a member of the species Homo sapiens, needing only the proper environment in order to grow and develop. The difference between the individual in its adult stage and in its zygotic stage is one of form, not nature.” A completely unique person, created in the image and likeness of God, is formed at the moment sperm meets egg. When the validity of life beginning at conception is not acknowledged, the value of the human being in the womb is not recognized and equated to the value of the mother. To be able to effectively care for the human in the womb along with the one carrying the child, acknowledgment of their human existence is the first step.
Abortion is an active threat to human beings in our world today, because millions of voiceless people are being disregarded and unaccounted for. Their inability to speak for themselves results in a fatal ending to their life. The denial of true human life in the womb by millions around the world is disheartening. Not only is abortion a threat, but it is an epidemic that causes divisions between partners, families, communities, and society as a whole. By practicing abortions, we are interfering with God’s ultimate plan for each individual’s life. Despite the extremely difficult and emotionally taxing circumstances many women are in when they choose to have an abortion, the answer to one tragedy, is not another tragedy. “What about rape?” some might ask, or “what about circumstances of incest?”. While these are unimaginable and horrible things that have happened to many women, I believe that the worth of a human being is not lessened by the sin of their father. A child conceived out of rape or incest is no less deserving of life than anyone else. And while I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like to be in that situation, I know that each of us was created out of love and with an equal amount of value as everyone else.
Speaking out against abortion is a hard thing to do. It is easier for me to sit behind my computer screen and type this essay, than it is for me to put myself in an opportunity to be judged for being pro-life by sharing my beliefs out loud. However, each of us holds a responsibility to use our voices for those who don’t have one. As I head to college next year, I am nervous to be challenged about my beliefs because I want to be able to defend them. I want to grow more confident in my ability to stand before others and share why I am proud to be pro-life. And while it is an intimidating thing to do, defending the vulnerable and teaching the value of every person can be practiced in many different ways. Maybe it’s answering questions about why I’m pro-life, maybe it’s praying publicly or privately for an end to abortion and guidance for all mothers considering an abortion, or maybe just simply opening the door for conversation about it. Abortion shouldn’t be a topic that creates divisions and hostility towards one another when brought up, it should be a discussion that is the stepping stone towards finding the best life possible for both the mother and her child.
Michael Bentler
Third Place (tie), Senior Division
Grade 10 - Homeschool
Come Now, and Let Us Reason Together
In our day and age there is a blatant disrespect for life. Abortion is the sinful practice of terminating a fetus, a baby that is, while still within the mother’s womb. This is a great evil, and although many who do it do not understand, it is still a terrible thing.
The very lifeblood that we have was given unto us by God the Almighty father, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness’” (Gen. 1:26 RSVCE) and it is for this very reason, that life is to be cherished and protected. In this essay I will lay out the reasons, both scientifically, legally, and spiritually, why life in the womb is to be cherished, and not exterminated.
In the realm of science, it is and should be undeniable that the fetus is not merely living, but a human being. The Fetus fulfills all six characteristics of life as taken from General Biology (Alaya and Rogstad 1):
The fetus is originally comprised of two cells and undergoes mitosis to grow. Metabolism also occurs, as the baby receives nutrients and expels waste through the placenta in the womb. As previously stated, the fetus undergoes mitosis, and grows over time, full development taking place over a period of nine months.
Babies in the womb also contain and can eventually pass on genetic information, as they are given a unique genetic code combined from both parents at conception, and in development they develop the necessary body parts to eventually reproduce. The fetus also responds to stimuli as early as 8 weeks, initially with sensory receptor development in the face, mostly on the lips and nose (Morgan).
Finally, babies in the womb adapt to their environments, coming from the womb into the outer world and beginning to breathe and eat independent of the umbilical cord.
The evidence for the fetus being a living, breathing, human being is firm, but in the realm of legality, where do the unborn stand?
According to 18 U.S. Code § 1111, murder is “the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought” (Cornell). However, without the intention of malice, that is, without understanding that the fetus is a human being, abortion becomes manslaughter “the unlawful killing of a human being without malice” (“18 USC 1112: Manslaughter”). Despite all of this, abortion is still legalized in Iowa before six weeks of pregnancy (Katarina Sostaric) which is a MASSIVE contradiction in the law, since it involves the taking of human life.
Now that we’ve addressed the legal and scientific side of the problem of abortion, we can analyze the spiritual side.
In the most objective and undeniable way possible, abortion is the killing of an innocent human being which is prohibited in the very bible itself “Thou shall not kill” (Exo. 20:13). However, if more proof is required from the Bible than the most absolute proof on humanity in the womb is John the Baptist, “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her whom and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Luke 1:41). This proves that John the Baptist was not only alive in utero, but also self-aware; and not only that, but according to an article from Catholic Answers, it is “a pious Christian speculation that John the Baptist was freed from sin when he was filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb” (Staff).
This Bible verse, in and of itself proves so much about the reality of life and humanity in the womb, if those listening profess and believe in Christianity. The Catholic Church itself has always stood against abortion even as early as the 1st and 2nd century, where in articles such as the Didache and Letter of Barnabas, it was strongly condemned.
Overall, abortion is a heinous act not only in terms of science and law, but also against God’s creation. It should be strongly opposed, and life should be strongly defended. We must pray, not only for the unborn, but for their parents and those who perform the Abortion.
We can also publicly protest, for protesting is our right, and it draws attention to our cause, and can help to influence others. Especially if we maintain calm and prayerful attitudes, the hearts of non-believers may be changed!
It is through our uncompromising zeal, and through our undying loyalty to Christ that we can defeat the evils done against life in our days. "I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
Works Cited
Morgan, Jamie. “Womb with a View: Sensory Development in Utero | Your Pregnancy Matters | UT Southwestern Medical Center.” Utswmed.org, 1 Aug. 2017, utswmed.org/medblog/sensory-development-utero/.
Ayala, Heather, and Katie Rogstad. General Biology. Classical Academic Press, 1 July 2020.
Cornell Law School. “18 U.S. Code § 1111 - Murder.” LII / Legal Information Institute, 2003, www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1111.
“18 USC 1112: Manslaughter.” House.gov, 2024, uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:18%20section:1112%20edition:prelim). Accessed 1 May 2025.
Staff, Catholic Answers. “Was John the Baptist Born without Original Sin?” Catholic Answers, 2019, www.catholic.com/qa/was-john-the-baptist-born-without-original-sin.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. “Respect for Unborn Human Life: The Church’s Constant Teaching.” Www.usccb.org, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2022, www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/abortion/respect-for-unborn-human-life.
The title of the essay is taken from the book of Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."
Third Place (tie), Senior Division
Grade 10 - Homeschool
Come Now, and Let Us Reason Together
In our day and age there is a blatant disrespect for life. Abortion is the sinful practice of terminating a fetus, a baby that is, while still within the mother’s womb. This is a great evil, and although many who do it do not understand, it is still a terrible thing.
The very lifeblood that we have was given unto us by God the Almighty father, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness’” (Gen. 1:26 RSVCE) and it is for this very reason, that life is to be cherished and protected. In this essay I will lay out the reasons, both scientifically, legally, and spiritually, why life in the womb is to be cherished, and not exterminated.
In the realm of science, it is and should be undeniable that the fetus is not merely living, but a human being. The Fetus fulfills all six characteristics of life as taken from General Biology (Alaya and Rogstad 1):
The fetus is originally comprised of two cells and undergoes mitosis to grow. Metabolism also occurs, as the baby receives nutrients and expels waste through the placenta in the womb. As previously stated, the fetus undergoes mitosis, and grows over time, full development taking place over a period of nine months.
Babies in the womb also contain and can eventually pass on genetic information, as they are given a unique genetic code combined from both parents at conception, and in development they develop the necessary body parts to eventually reproduce. The fetus also responds to stimuli as early as 8 weeks, initially with sensory receptor development in the face, mostly on the lips and nose (Morgan).
Finally, babies in the womb adapt to their environments, coming from the womb into the outer world and beginning to breathe and eat independent of the umbilical cord.
The evidence for the fetus being a living, breathing, human being is firm, but in the realm of legality, where do the unborn stand?
According to 18 U.S. Code § 1111, murder is “the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought” (Cornell). However, without the intention of malice, that is, without understanding that the fetus is a human being, abortion becomes manslaughter “the unlawful killing of a human being without malice” (“18 USC 1112: Manslaughter”). Despite all of this, abortion is still legalized in Iowa before six weeks of pregnancy (Katarina Sostaric) which is a MASSIVE contradiction in the law, since it involves the taking of human life.
Now that we’ve addressed the legal and scientific side of the problem of abortion, we can analyze the spiritual side.
In the most objective and undeniable way possible, abortion is the killing of an innocent human being which is prohibited in the very bible itself “Thou shall not kill” (Exo. 20:13). However, if more proof is required from the Bible than the most absolute proof on humanity in the womb is John the Baptist, “And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her whom and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Luke 1:41). This proves that John the Baptist was not only alive in utero, but also self-aware; and not only that, but according to an article from Catholic Answers, it is “a pious Christian speculation that John the Baptist was freed from sin when he was filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb” (Staff).
This Bible verse, in and of itself proves so much about the reality of life and humanity in the womb, if those listening profess and believe in Christianity. The Catholic Church itself has always stood against abortion even as early as the 1st and 2nd century, where in articles such as the Didache and Letter of Barnabas, it was strongly condemned.
Overall, abortion is a heinous act not only in terms of science and law, but also against God’s creation. It should be strongly opposed, and life should be strongly defended. We must pray, not only for the unborn, but for their parents and those who perform the Abortion.
We can also publicly protest, for protesting is our right, and it draws attention to our cause, and can help to influence others. Especially if we maintain calm and prayerful attitudes, the hearts of non-believers may be changed!
It is through our uncompromising zeal, and through our undying loyalty to Christ that we can defeat the evils done against life in our days. "I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
Works Cited
Morgan, Jamie. “Womb with a View: Sensory Development in Utero | Your Pregnancy Matters | UT Southwestern Medical Center.” Utswmed.org, 1 Aug. 2017, utswmed.org/medblog/sensory-development-utero/.
Ayala, Heather, and Katie Rogstad. General Biology. Classical Academic Press, 1 July 2020.
Cornell Law School. “18 U.S. Code § 1111 - Murder.” LII / Legal Information Institute, 2003, www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1111.
“18 USC 1112: Manslaughter.” House.gov, 2024, uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:18%20section:1112%20edition:prelim). Accessed 1 May 2025.
Staff, Catholic Answers. “Was John the Baptist Born without Original Sin?” Catholic Answers, 2019, www.catholic.com/qa/was-john-the-baptist-born-without-original-sin.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. “Respect for Unborn Human Life: The Church’s Constant Teaching.” Www.usccb.org, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2022, www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/abortion/respect-for-unborn-human-life.
The title of the essay is taken from the book of Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."
Gabrielle Feller
Third Place (tie), Senior Division
Grade 10 - Homeschool
Euthanasia by definition is “the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy”. This definition is not only problematic to Christians but to our society as whole in many ways. Euthanasia is committed by a physician administering lethal drugs to a terminally ill or dying patient, in hopes of putting their earthly suffering to an end. This decision is made by the patient or the patient’s power of attorney, if the patient is incapacitated. Euthanasia is appealing to many because it seemingly offers a relatively painless and quick death, this leads us to our first argument:
Why is Euthanasia bad? The arguments supporting this question usually center around one thing: “It's my life” This argument raises one easily answered question: “Are our lives really ours?” No, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2280) tells us that “We are obliged to accept life gracefully and preserve it for his honor and the salvation of our souls. We are Stewards, not owners, of the life God has trusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of.”
One of the most challenging parts of being human is the suffering that comes with it. It is not always easy for us to live with our sufferings, which is why it is easy for many to say that they would rather have a short, “easy” death. For the most part, our lives are relatively free of suffering especially in comparison to Jesus’s life. He was not only tormented spiritually but also physically. I once heard his suffering for our sins described as this: “Every pearce from the crown of thorns that Jesus endured was for every sin we commit.” All of his suffering being offered up for the sake of spending eternity in peace with God.
People considering euthanasia may feel embarrassed or guilty that others may have to take care of them. Our societal constructs mainly rely on independence, and normality. We all want to be perceived as “normal” but this is not always possible for people with disabilities or who are terminally ill, or dying. These patients considering euthanasia may not want to rely on caregivers because they want to continue to feel independent rather than being fully dependent on someone else. This lends us into a very serious topic. The neglect of long term care facility patients.
Unfortunately there are many caregivers around the country, and even in our own state, that abuse and disrespect the dignity of this vulnerable community, further making these patients not want to go into long term nursing facilities. This abuse may look different from other forms but it is just as detrimental. Abuse in care facilities can look like: not responding verbally to a patient, not moving a patient in their bed for long periods of time, and being hostile to patients or not offering them activities. These actions may not seem too terrible if you are healthy and able to be independent, but to patients who cannot get up without assistance, this takes away the patient’s quality of life. Further making terminally ill patients not want to go into nursing facilities, and one of my many reasons for wanting to work in a nursing home and fight this all too common abuse.
My plan to help fight against euthanasia in my community is to become a nurse. I plan to care for these vulnerable patients and give them the dignity and respect they deserve, especially when they do not see the gifts of their life anymore. I have been blessed to grow up around my older relatives who have taught me so much. So many life lessons that would have otherwise been forgotten to time if any of those people had gone through euthanasia. I hope to continue helping in my community by volunteering in my local nursing home and visiting these somewhat forgotten members of our society.
God has given us free will to do good, but not everyone will respect such power. As Uncle Ben said in Spider Man: “with great power comes great responsibility” it is our responsibility to build a culture of respect and dignity for every human life especially the sick, elderly, and dying. Every life is worthy of saving. Every soul is worth loving. Pray for those considering euthanasia. And finally, in the great words of St. Teresa of Avila,
“To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that”
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/euthanasia
Third Place (tie), Senior Division
Grade 10 - Homeschool
Euthanasia by definition is “the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy”. This definition is not only problematic to Christians but to our society as whole in many ways. Euthanasia is committed by a physician administering lethal drugs to a terminally ill or dying patient, in hopes of putting their earthly suffering to an end. This decision is made by the patient or the patient’s power of attorney, if the patient is incapacitated. Euthanasia is appealing to many because it seemingly offers a relatively painless and quick death, this leads us to our first argument:
Why is Euthanasia bad? The arguments supporting this question usually center around one thing: “It's my life” This argument raises one easily answered question: “Are our lives really ours?” No, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2280) tells us that “We are obliged to accept life gracefully and preserve it for his honor and the salvation of our souls. We are Stewards, not owners, of the life God has trusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of.”
One of the most challenging parts of being human is the suffering that comes with it. It is not always easy for us to live with our sufferings, which is why it is easy for many to say that they would rather have a short, “easy” death. For the most part, our lives are relatively free of suffering especially in comparison to Jesus’s life. He was not only tormented spiritually but also physically. I once heard his suffering for our sins described as this: “Every pearce from the crown of thorns that Jesus endured was for every sin we commit.” All of his suffering being offered up for the sake of spending eternity in peace with God.
People considering euthanasia may feel embarrassed or guilty that others may have to take care of them. Our societal constructs mainly rely on independence, and normality. We all want to be perceived as “normal” but this is not always possible for people with disabilities or who are terminally ill, or dying. These patients considering euthanasia may not want to rely on caregivers because they want to continue to feel independent rather than being fully dependent on someone else. This lends us into a very serious topic. The neglect of long term care facility patients.
Unfortunately there are many caregivers around the country, and even in our own state, that abuse and disrespect the dignity of this vulnerable community, further making these patients not want to go into long term nursing facilities. This abuse may look different from other forms but it is just as detrimental. Abuse in care facilities can look like: not responding verbally to a patient, not moving a patient in their bed for long periods of time, and being hostile to patients or not offering them activities. These actions may not seem too terrible if you are healthy and able to be independent, but to patients who cannot get up without assistance, this takes away the patient’s quality of life. Further making terminally ill patients not want to go into nursing facilities, and one of my many reasons for wanting to work in a nursing home and fight this all too common abuse.
My plan to help fight against euthanasia in my community is to become a nurse. I plan to care for these vulnerable patients and give them the dignity and respect they deserve, especially when they do not see the gifts of their life anymore. I have been blessed to grow up around my older relatives who have taught me so much. So many life lessons that would have otherwise been forgotten to time if any of those people had gone through euthanasia. I hope to continue helping in my community by volunteering in my local nursing home and visiting these somewhat forgotten members of our society.
God has given us free will to do good, but not everyone will respect such power. As Uncle Ben said in Spider Man: “with great power comes great responsibility” it is our responsibility to build a culture of respect and dignity for every human life especially the sick, elderly, and dying. Every life is worthy of saving. Every soul is worth loving. Pray for those considering euthanasia. And finally, in the great words of St. Teresa of Avila,
“To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that”
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/euthanasia
Samantha Gumpper
First Place, College Division
Iowa State University
Every human life is a precious gift. Each life, created in the image and likeness of God. A reflection of His love. Unique, special, and irreplaceable. In a world where the sacredness and dignity of life is actively challenged, it is increasingly important to stand up for the vulnerable and uphold the truth that every life matters no matter how big or small. Abortion gravely endangers the value of human life. By understanding what abortion is, why it harms individuals and society, and how to actively defend life in our own communities, we can become a voice for the voiceless and protect the miracle and gift that is every human being.
Abortion is a pressing threat to the sacredness of life, but what is it? Abortion by definition is the intentional termination of pregnancy, ending the life of an unborn child before birth. It takes the life of a unique and irreplaceable human being intricately created by God and is a profound act of injustice, denying the value of the most vulnerable among us. Abortion is often presented as healthcare or a form of liberation for women, however, true healthcare protects and nurtures life, not end it. The claims that abortion empowers women is misleading, as it often leaves emotional, physical, and spiritual wounds that are rarely acknowledged. In reality, abortion is a violent and invasive procedure that involves medication or surgery to forcibly remove or destroy the developing unborn child. It offers a false solution that ignores the value of both lives involved and the real needs of women in crisis. Life begins at conception, and from that moment on, the child possesses inherent dignity and therefore a right to live. Abortion not only ends this innocent life, but also has lasting effects on the mother, father, and society that are often ignored or hidden.
Although many frame abortion as a matter of personal choice, abortion ends a human life in its most fragile stage. It is a violation of the fundamental right to life, posing a dangerous threat to our society’s respect for human dignity, the value of life, and the protection of the innocent. By allowing abortion, we begin to treat human life as disposable, especially at its most defenseless point, degrading the core belief that every person has inherent worth that needs to be protected. This degradation extends beyond the unborn, threatening the foundation for a culture built on respect for life. Women are often told that abortion will liberate them, however, this is a devastating lie. Instead, many are left with deep emotional pain, trauma, and lasting regret. Rather than liberating women, abortion often isolates and wounds them. Stealing the support and dignity they deserve therefore failing to help women in crisis. It also attacks the nature of family, cutting the most sacred bond between a mother, father, and child, and weakening the structure that nurtures life, love, and responsibility. Rather than promoting solutions that preserve and support families, abortion encourages the mindset that children are optional or a burden when conceived at an “inconvenient” time. When the idea that the most vulnerable can be discarded is normalized, it shifts the foundation of family from unconditional love and commitment to personal convenience. It devalues parental responsibility, fatherhood and motherhood, and generational love and support. Ultimately, abortion promotes a culture of death. A view of the world in which life is only valued when it is wanted. Abortion desensitizes society to violence against the vulnerable and voiceless. It reflects the long-standing temptation to take control over life and death, a power that belongs to God alone. When we try to take this role, we replace compassion with control and ignore the sacredness of life. Instead of a culture celebrating the wonderful gift of life and value of every person, abortion leads to a culture that views life as expendable. In a culture where hate is at the center, we lose our sense of justice by denying the most basic and universal human right, the right to live. Along with justice, we also lose our humanity and compassion.
It is important to speak out against abortion and stand firmly in the truth that every human life, no matter how small or vulnerable, has value and deserves protection. Speaking out against abortion is not only something I believe in but also something I continuously live out through my involvement in the pro-life movement. As a member of Students for Life, I attend regular meetings where we learn about pro-life issues, how to have respectful and informed conversations with those who disagree, and table on campus to advocate for our pro-life views and for the voiceless. I have participated in 40 Days for Life, praying peacefully in front of clinics and being there as a witness and voice for the unborn, and joined pro-life marches to defend the dignity of every life. In my community, I have also volunteered with pregnancy resource organizations like Martha’s House of Hope and Mary’s Helping Hands, which provide real support and hope to women. One of the most meaningful experiences was writing letters of encouragement to the mothers at Martha’s House of Hope, reminding them they are not alone, and that choosing life is brave and beautiful. Continuing these efforts is one of the best ways I can continue to advocate for the unborn and make a difference in building a culture that values and respects life.
Every human life is sacred, not because of size, age, or circumstances of conception, but because life is created by God and in His image. To deny this truth is to allow fear, pain, or convenience to decide who is worthy of life. Even in the most difficult situations, the unborn are still deserving of love, protection, and dignity simply because they are human. In a world that often forgets or ignores this truth, it is our responsibility to stand firm and speak out. Dignity is not earned, it is inherent, granted to us by God from the very moment of conception. By defending the unborn, women in need, and restoring the family as God intended, we help build a culture that cherishes life at every stage. Speaking out against abortion is more than a belief, it is a mission to uphold truth and compassion. When we honor the smallest lives among us, we reclaim our own humanity and begin to heal a broken world.
First Place, College Division
Iowa State University
Every human life is a precious gift. Each life, created in the image and likeness of God. A reflection of His love. Unique, special, and irreplaceable. In a world where the sacredness and dignity of life is actively challenged, it is increasingly important to stand up for the vulnerable and uphold the truth that every life matters no matter how big or small. Abortion gravely endangers the value of human life. By understanding what abortion is, why it harms individuals and society, and how to actively defend life in our own communities, we can become a voice for the voiceless and protect the miracle and gift that is every human being.
Abortion is a pressing threat to the sacredness of life, but what is it? Abortion by definition is the intentional termination of pregnancy, ending the life of an unborn child before birth. It takes the life of a unique and irreplaceable human being intricately created by God and is a profound act of injustice, denying the value of the most vulnerable among us. Abortion is often presented as healthcare or a form of liberation for women, however, true healthcare protects and nurtures life, not end it. The claims that abortion empowers women is misleading, as it often leaves emotional, physical, and spiritual wounds that are rarely acknowledged. In reality, abortion is a violent and invasive procedure that involves medication or surgery to forcibly remove or destroy the developing unborn child. It offers a false solution that ignores the value of both lives involved and the real needs of women in crisis. Life begins at conception, and from that moment on, the child possesses inherent dignity and therefore a right to live. Abortion not only ends this innocent life, but also has lasting effects on the mother, father, and society that are often ignored or hidden.
Although many frame abortion as a matter of personal choice, abortion ends a human life in its most fragile stage. It is a violation of the fundamental right to life, posing a dangerous threat to our society’s respect for human dignity, the value of life, and the protection of the innocent. By allowing abortion, we begin to treat human life as disposable, especially at its most defenseless point, degrading the core belief that every person has inherent worth that needs to be protected. This degradation extends beyond the unborn, threatening the foundation for a culture built on respect for life. Women are often told that abortion will liberate them, however, this is a devastating lie. Instead, many are left with deep emotional pain, trauma, and lasting regret. Rather than liberating women, abortion often isolates and wounds them. Stealing the support and dignity they deserve therefore failing to help women in crisis. It also attacks the nature of family, cutting the most sacred bond between a mother, father, and child, and weakening the structure that nurtures life, love, and responsibility. Rather than promoting solutions that preserve and support families, abortion encourages the mindset that children are optional or a burden when conceived at an “inconvenient” time. When the idea that the most vulnerable can be discarded is normalized, it shifts the foundation of family from unconditional love and commitment to personal convenience. It devalues parental responsibility, fatherhood and motherhood, and generational love and support. Ultimately, abortion promotes a culture of death. A view of the world in which life is only valued when it is wanted. Abortion desensitizes society to violence against the vulnerable and voiceless. It reflects the long-standing temptation to take control over life and death, a power that belongs to God alone. When we try to take this role, we replace compassion with control and ignore the sacredness of life. Instead of a culture celebrating the wonderful gift of life and value of every person, abortion leads to a culture that views life as expendable. In a culture where hate is at the center, we lose our sense of justice by denying the most basic and universal human right, the right to live. Along with justice, we also lose our humanity and compassion.
It is important to speak out against abortion and stand firmly in the truth that every human life, no matter how small or vulnerable, has value and deserves protection. Speaking out against abortion is not only something I believe in but also something I continuously live out through my involvement in the pro-life movement. As a member of Students for Life, I attend regular meetings where we learn about pro-life issues, how to have respectful and informed conversations with those who disagree, and table on campus to advocate for our pro-life views and for the voiceless. I have participated in 40 Days for Life, praying peacefully in front of clinics and being there as a witness and voice for the unborn, and joined pro-life marches to defend the dignity of every life. In my community, I have also volunteered with pregnancy resource organizations like Martha’s House of Hope and Mary’s Helping Hands, which provide real support and hope to women. One of the most meaningful experiences was writing letters of encouragement to the mothers at Martha’s House of Hope, reminding them they are not alone, and that choosing life is brave and beautiful. Continuing these efforts is one of the best ways I can continue to advocate for the unborn and make a difference in building a culture that values and respects life.
Every human life is sacred, not because of size, age, or circumstances of conception, but because life is created by God and in His image. To deny this truth is to allow fear, pain, or convenience to decide who is worthy of life. Even in the most difficult situations, the unborn are still deserving of love, protection, and dignity simply because they are human. In a world that often forgets or ignores this truth, it is our responsibility to stand firm and speak out. Dignity is not earned, it is inherent, granted to us by God from the very moment of conception. By defending the unborn, women in need, and restoring the family as God intended, we help build a culture that cherishes life at every stage. Speaking out against abortion is more than a belief, it is a mission to uphold truth and compassion. When we honor the smallest lives among us, we reclaim our own humanity and begin to heal a broken world.
Olivia Jackson
Second Place, College Division
University of Iowa
Women are like Water
From the moments of conception and implantation, a woman’s body seems to fold inward, corralling its various systems together to protect and nourish this fragile life within her. Hormones, our body’s “chemical messengers,” broadcast the good news like an emboldened headline on the morning paper proclaiming: “Life has arrived!” (Understanding Hormones: Your Body’s Silent Messengers). Where life is, we ought to nourish it. When women are given a bouquet of flowers, there is a sort of open receptivity that occurs, a desire to run home and dust off the vase in the back of the cupboard. She rearranges the books on the windowsill and makes a place for the flowers. Women have this unique capacity, when presented with life, to prepare for it and make space for it, like one would prepare their house for a guest. This is her delight. Abortion however disrupts this process. It rejects the life’s arrival, sends the chemical messengers back home packing, and convinces the woman she need not make space at all.
According to an author with the Catholic Health Association, abortion is “the intentional termination of a pregnancy that could be or is viable” (Ethics: What is Abortion?). Abortion industries seek to market this termination as a healthcare service, leading women astray toward something they linguistically perceive as a solution to a problem. Oxford Languages defines the word service as “the action of helping or doing work for someone,” while it defines a disservice as “a harmful action” (Oxford Languages and Google). The success criteria for an abortion reveals whether it is truly a service or a disservice. For an abortion to be considered successful, the entire fetal body must be removed along with all associated tissues. However, if the woman were to take a test following a surgical or medical abortion, it would still read positive because of a month or months-long span of highly sustained pregnancy hormone activity (Types of Abortions). In an abortion, the woman is pitted against her own body’s will. She is convinced her body would like to be quickly rid of the life within it, but, in reality, her body grieves the loss and takes significant time to re-regulate. Her body has been harmed and thus a disservice has been done to her. She has been failed by the very industries swearing to help her prosper.
The attack on women is not new, but rather an age-old plight. Women were gifted the unique ability to receive and to bear life, to nourish and to notice, to move life forward. If someone wanted to destroy mankind, they would most certainly start with her. The surest threat to anything is through its source of nourishment. If you want to poison and pollute a river, you must first find its headwaters, the source of its stream. The headwaters of a river are essential in nutrient dispersion and play an overall role in the entire river system’s health (Water Education Foundation), so if these waters were continuously polluted and compromised, the effects would mimic a domino downfall. So too are the effects of abortion on humanity. Children and teenagers, men and women, adults and elders all experience the loss of the nurturing woman. The balance of all relationships is skewed, and everyone begins to search for ways to self preserve, because if a woman can deny her own child, surely anyone can deny anyone.
“Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” (New American RE Bible, Isaiah 49:15). The Pro Choice movement declares the words “my body, my choice,” but whose body are we really discussing in the matter of abortion? Have we forgotten the women who have miscarried, who all feel the heart-wrenching lack of the child within their womb? What do we make of these women? None would dare to minimize their loss. Whether a pregnancy is wanted or unwanted, the loss remains the same. Women all over the world are experiencing significant losses but are encouraged to forget and to move forward with life. A globe with millions of women roaming around with skeletons in their closets, hanging their head in shame, hurting inside. This does not sound like God’s design for his people. It sounds like a cycle of endless shame that will only produce more oppression upon women through prolonged lies.
Lots of women feel forgotten and alone in pregnancy, unsure and anxious about the future. They struggle with body image, sickness, and fatigue, and they simply seek out a place to rest their head. Volunteering this year has given me such perspective on abortion activism and what it truly consists of. I do not think that voices are heard through one proud shout, but rather through a thousand humble whispers. The place I volunteer is tucked in a tiny, rented space on a side street in Iowa City. It is not on a main drag and there are no signs advertising it as a pro-life resource. It is a place that women can come to get support whether that be material, emotional, or referential, and a place that may not get tons of foot traffic, but where a qualitative difference is prioritized over quantitative. Speaking on the phone with a mother who spoke broken English, asking diaper sizes, and praying silent rosaries across from the Emma Goldman clinic, I have learned that activism is not about how loud you can be, but how your actions in your daily life align with the cause you pursue.
I would like to bring my love for mothers and the unborn into my career someday as well. I will be student teaching elementary age students next year and will have my own classroom in a year and a half. I plan to teach at a Catholic school and teach my students the value of every life starting in the womb. I hope to foster this through study of scripture, Jesus’ words to his people, physical models of a baby’s growth throughout pregnancy that students can hold in their hands and encouraging conversations about being good siblings and nurturing life! It is through the children that we will see the hope of our future.
Works Cited
Headwaters. Water Education Foundation. (n.d.). https://www.watereducation.org/aquapedia background/headwaters
Aligned Modern Health. (2025, March 28). Understanding hormones: Your body’s silent messengers. https://alignedmodernhealth.com/understanding-hormones-your-bodys-silent messengers/
Kane, B. M. (2023). Ethics - what is abortion?. Catholic Health Association of the United States. https://www.chausa.org/news-and-publications/publications/health
progress/archives/winter-2023/ethics---what-is-abortion
Davis, S. (n.d.). Abortion procedures. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/women/abortion procedures
The Holy Bible New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Bible Press and Harper Collins Christian Publishers, 1989.
Second Place, College Division
University of Iowa
Women are like Water
From the moments of conception and implantation, a woman’s body seems to fold inward, corralling its various systems together to protect and nourish this fragile life within her. Hormones, our body’s “chemical messengers,” broadcast the good news like an emboldened headline on the morning paper proclaiming: “Life has arrived!” (Understanding Hormones: Your Body’s Silent Messengers). Where life is, we ought to nourish it. When women are given a bouquet of flowers, there is a sort of open receptivity that occurs, a desire to run home and dust off the vase in the back of the cupboard. She rearranges the books on the windowsill and makes a place for the flowers. Women have this unique capacity, when presented with life, to prepare for it and make space for it, like one would prepare their house for a guest. This is her delight. Abortion however disrupts this process. It rejects the life’s arrival, sends the chemical messengers back home packing, and convinces the woman she need not make space at all.
According to an author with the Catholic Health Association, abortion is “the intentional termination of a pregnancy that could be or is viable” (Ethics: What is Abortion?). Abortion industries seek to market this termination as a healthcare service, leading women astray toward something they linguistically perceive as a solution to a problem. Oxford Languages defines the word service as “the action of helping or doing work for someone,” while it defines a disservice as “a harmful action” (Oxford Languages and Google). The success criteria for an abortion reveals whether it is truly a service or a disservice. For an abortion to be considered successful, the entire fetal body must be removed along with all associated tissues. However, if the woman were to take a test following a surgical or medical abortion, it would still read positive because of a month or months-long span of highly sustained pregnancy hormone activity (Types of Abortions). In an abortion, the woman is pitted against her own body’s will. She is convinced her body would like to be quickly rid of the life within it, but, in reality, her body grieves the loss and takes significant time to re-regulate. Her body has been harmed and thus a disservice has been done to her. She has been failed by the very industries swearing to help her prosper.
The attack on women is not new, but rather an age-old plight. Women were gifted the unique ability to receive and to bear life, to nourish and to notice, to move life forward. If someone wanted to destroy mankind, they would most certainly start with her. The surest threat to anything is through its source of nourishment. If you want to poison and pollute a river, you must first find its headwaters, the source of its stream. The headwaters of a river are essential in nutrient dispersion and play an overall role in the entire river system’s health (Water Education Foundation), so if these waters were continuously polluted and compromised, the effects would mimic a domino downfall. So too are the effects of abortion on humanity. Children and teenagers, men and women, adults and elders all experience the loss of the nurturing woman. The balance of all relationships is skewed, and everyone begins to search for ways to self preserve, because if a woman can deny her own child, surely anyone can deny anyone.
“Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” (New American RE Bible, Isaiah 49:15). The Pro Choice movement declares the words “my body, my choice,” but whose body are we really discussing in the matter of abortion? Have we forgotten the women who have miscarried, who all feel the heart-wrenching lack of the child within their womb? What do we make of these women? None would dare to minimize their loss. Whether a pregnancy is wanted or unwanted, the loss remains the same. Women all over the world are experiencing significant losses but are encouraged to forget and to move forward with life. A globe with millions of women roaming around with skeletons in their closets, hanging their head in shame, hurting inside. This does not sound like God’s design for his people. It sounds like a cycle of endless shame that will only produce more oppression upon women through prolonged lies.
Lots of women feel forgotten and alone in pregnancy, unsure and anxious about the future. They struggle with body image, sickness, and fatigue, and they simply seek out a place to rest their head. Volunteering this year has given me such perspective on abortion activism and what it truly consists of. I do not think that voices are heard through one proud shout, but rather through a thousand humble whispers. The place I volunteer is tucked in a tiny, rented space on a side street in Iowa City. It is not on a main drag and there are no signs advertising it as a pro-life resource. It is a place that women can come to get support whether that be material, emotional, or referential, and a place that may not get tons of foot traffic, but where a qualitative difference is prioritized over quantitative. Speaking on the phone with a mother who spoke broken English, asking diaper sizes, and praying silent rosaries across from the Emma Goldman clinic, I have learned that activism is not about how loud you can be, but how your actions in your daily life align with the cause you pursue.
I would like to bring my love for mothers and the unborn into my career someday as well. I will be student teaching elementary age students next year and will have my own classroom in a year and a half. I plan to teach at a Catholic school and teach my students the value of every life starting in the womb. I hope to foster this through study of scripture, Jesus’ words to his people, physical models of a baby’s growth throughout pregnancy that students can hold in their hands and encouraging conversations about being good siblings and nurturing life! It is through the children that we will see the hope of our future.
Works Cited
Headwaters. Water Education Foundation. (n.d.). https://www.watereducation.org/aquapedia background/headwaters
Aligned Modern Health. (2025, March 28). Understanding hormones: Your body’s silent messengers. https://alignedmodernhealth.com/understanding-hormones-your-bodys-silent messengers/
Kane, B. M. (2023). Ethics - what is abortion?. Catholic Health Association of the United States. https://www.chausa.org/news-and-publications/publications/health
progress/archives/winter-2023/ethics---what-is-abortion
Davis, S. (n.d.). Abortion procedures. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/women/abortion procedures
The Holy Bible New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Bible Press and Harper Collins Christian Publishers, 1989.
Monique Schnoebelen
Third Place, College Division
University of Iowa
As a student at The University of Iowa, I have had the unique experience of being a pro-life advocate on a college campus. It is a significant place to be a pro-life advocate because Iowa City has one of only two abortion clinics in the State of Iowa (Bendix, 2024). Abortion is defined as “the intentional ending of a pregnancy” (Cambridge Dictionary, n.d). Being pregnant means a woman is carrying another person inside of her. This means that abortion can also be defined as the intentional taking of a human life. Upon research of the definition of abortion, I also came across the definition of abortion as “something considered to be a complete failure or to be extremely bad or ugly” (Cambridge Dictionary, n.d). While the word abortion can be used in two contexts, I think the two definitions are still interconnected in an interesting way. When abortion is used in the context of ending a pregnancy, it is just marketed as if it is a solution to end the problem. In its second context, abortion can also be used as a word to describe something that is really bad and has a negative connotation (Cambridge Dictionary, n.d). If abortion can be described this way, then why are so many women being convinced that an abortion will solve their problem? It is sad that so many women believe the lies that society tells them.
Abortion is wrong because it robs another person from living his or her life. It treats people, specifically babies, as expendable. Abortion also harms society because it does not value the dignity of life. We currently live in a disposable society that thinks everything is able to be discarded at whim. From plastic to paper, people throw away pounds of trash everyday. But somehow, this culture of a throw-away society has infiltrated to include human life. This is a slippery slope for our society to choose, as this line of thinking gives people the impression that humans have no more worth or dignity. Abortion harms society when it undermines the gift of innocent human life. While our dignity is something that is inalienable, abortion gives the impression that human life can be dispensed of at will. Unless we influence the culture and how we think about life, human life will soon cease to maintain its value as people stop having children, especially when it’s inconvenient for them.
Not only does abortion effect the life of the child, but it is also a threat to the woman because it affects her health in the long and short term. Complications from abortions can cause infertility in women (Capps and Cantu, 2024). Abortion first became legal in the United States in 1973 (McCall, n.d). Consequently, we seen a downward trend in fertility rates as the fertility rate in 1973 was 2.03 and decreased to 1.79 in 2025 in the United States (Macrotrends, 2024). This is a very concerning statistic, and while abortion is most likely not the only reason due to the declining fertility rates, it can still account for the fertility drop. Furthermore, abortion not only kills the baby, but also harms the women in many other ways. Abortion has various health effects on women including an increased chance of women getting breast cancer, cervical cancer, and an increased chance of early labor in future pregnancies (A List of Abortion Risks and Complications, n.d). Aside from the physical risks of abortion, the emotional damage is undeniable. Abortion causes emotional damage to women as “women who had undergone an abortion experienced an 81% increased risk of mental health problems” (Coleman, 2018). This is another staggering statistic that is very alarming. It is unprecedented that abortion causes this much damage to women, and yet, women are still being told that abortion is the best option.
Based on my experiences, The University of Iowa can be a tricky difficult place to fight for the unborn, as there is a lot of pushback against those who oppose a pro-life view. However, I believe that it is a gift to be able to defend life openly on the university campus. College is probably the time when your mind is most open to different views of the world that you might not have encountered. College is one of the most formative and impactful times in your life. During my sophomore year, I became more involved with being publicly pro-life and defending life on campus. I started praying outside the Emma Goldman Clinic on Friday mornings during the Fall 40 Days for Life Campaign prior to my classes with a group of fellow students. By having a silent, prayerful witness of college students outside an abortion clinic, this is how I am hoping to influence the values and opinions of our culture. This was a powerful way for me to be a witness to fellow students walking or driving past. Whenever you pray outside an abortion clinic, you run the risk of counter protesters, some of whom can be aggressive or even abusive. I have learned the best way to confront this is to be calm and peaceful. Good conversations and changed minds can never happen while in a state of anger. Conversations can only be held when both people listen to each other.
Another way I can be a prolife advocate on campus is learning more about why I am pro-life because by learning more about what I believe and why, I am able to more fully have conversations with people about the beauty of being pro-life. One great resource that I love to listen to and strive to be like is Lila Rosa. She has a prolife podcast, website, and goes to various places openly debating those with opposing view as her and explaining her pro-life views with grace and patience.
I believe that my generation, Generation Z, is a pro-life generation. By our witness to the value and sanctity of life, we are influencing modern culture. Perhaps, my generation can even be the one to inspire past and future generations to join the fight for life and value a culture of life. We all have to do our part as we fight for the dignity of every life. By living my life to the fullest and doing my part in the fight for life, this is how I can build a culture of life.
References
A List of Abortion Risks and Complications. (n.d.). from https://www.heartbeatinternational.org/pdf/physical_risks_factsheet.pdf
Bendix, A. (2024, July 23). Iowa’s ban on abortions after 6 weeks will go into effect next week. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/iowa-abortion-law-to-go-into-effect-rcna162810
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d). abortion. In dictionary.cambridge.org. Retrieved May 5, 2025, from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/abortion
Capps, E. and Cantu, M. (2022, November 24). Can Abortion Make You Infertile? Human Life International. Retrieved May 5, 2025. from https://www.hli.org/resources/can-abortion-cause-infertility/
Coleman, P. K. (2018, January 2). Abortion and mental health: Quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995–2009. British Journal of Psychiatry, 199(3), 180–186. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.110.077230
Macrotrends. (2024). U.S. Fertility Rate 1950-2024. Www.macrotrends.net. Retrieved May 5, 2025. from https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/USA/united-states/fertility-rate
Mcall, M. (n.d.). How Did Abortion Become Legal? Findlaw. Retrieved May 5, 2025. from https://www.findlaw.com/healthcare/patient-rights/how-did-abortion-become-legal.html
Third Place, College Division
University of Iowa
As a student at The University of Iowa, I have had the unique experience of being a pro-life advocate on a college campus. It is a significant place to be a pro-life advocate because Iowa City has one of only two abortion clinics in the State of Iowa (Bendix, 2024). Abortion is defined as “the intentional ending of a pregnancy” (Cambridge Dictionary, n.d). Being pregnant means a woman is carrying another person inside of her. This means that abortion can also be defined as the intentional taking of a human life. Upon research of the definition of abortion, I also came across the definition of abortion as “something considered to be a complete failure or to be extremely bad or ugly” (Cambridge Dictionary, n.d). While the word abortion can be used in two contexts, I think the two definitions are still interconnected in an interesting way. When abortion is used in the context of ending a pregnancy, it is just marketed as if it is a solution to end the problem. In its second context, abortion can also be used as a word to describe something that is really bad and has a negative connotation (Cambridge Dictionary, n.d). If abortion can be described this way, then why are so many women being convinced that an abortion will solve their problem? It is sad that so many women believe the lies that society tells them.
Abortion is wrong because it robs another person from living his or her life. It treats people, specifically babies, as expendable. Abortion also harms society because it does not value the dignity of life. We currently live in a disposable society that thinks everything is able to be discarded at whim. From plastic to paper, people throw away pounds of trash everyday. But somehow, this culture of a throw-away society has infiltrated to include human life. This is a slippery slope for our society to choose, as this line of thinking gives people the impression that humans have no more worth or dignity. Abortion harms society when it undermines the gift of innocent human life. While our dignity is something that is inalienable, abortion gives the impression that human life can be dispensed of at will. Unless we influence the culture and how we think about life, human life will soon cease to maintain its value as people stop having children, especially when it’s inconvenient for them.
Not only does abortion effect the life of the child, but it is also a threat to the woman because it affects her health in the long and short term. Complications from abortions can cause infertility in women (Capps and Cantu, 2024). Abortion first became legal in the United States in 1973 (McCall, n.d). Consequently, we seen a downward trend in fertility rates as the fertility rate in 1973 was 2.03 and decreased to 1.79 in 2025 in the United States (Macrotrends, 2024). This is a very concerning statistic, and while abortion is most likely not the only reason due to the declining fertility rates, it can still account for the fertility drop. Furthermore, abortion not only kills the baby, but also harms the women in many other ways. Abortion has various health effects on women including an increased chance of women getting breast cancer, cervical cancer, and an increased chance of early labor in future pregnancies (A List of Abortion Risks and Complications, n.d). Aside from the physical risks of abortion, the emotional damage is undeniable. Abortion causes emotional damage to women as “women who had undergone an abortion experienced an 81% increased risk of mental health problems” (Coleman, 2018). This is another staggering statistic that is very alarming. It is unprecedented that abortion causes this much damage to women, and yet, women are still being told that abortion is the best option.
Based on my experiences, The University of Iowa can be a tricky difficult place to fight for the unborn, as there is a lot of pushback against those who oppose a pro-life view. However, I believe that it is a gift to be able to defend life openly on the university campus. College is probably the time when your mind is most open to different views of the world that you might not have encountered. College is one of the most formative and impactful times in your life. During my sophomore year, I became more involved with being publicly pro-life and defending life on campus. I started praying outside the Emma Goldman Clinic on Friday mornings during the Fall 40 Days for Life Campaign prior to my classes with a group of fellow students. By having a silent, prayerful witness of college students outside an abortion clinic, this is how I am hoping to influence the values and opinions of our culture. This was a powerful way for me to be a witness to fellow students walking or driving past. Whenever you pray outside an abortion clinic, you run the risk of counter protesters, some of whom can be aggressive or even abusive. I have learned the best way to confront this is to be calm and peaceful. Good conversations and changed minds can never happen while in a state of anger. Conversations can only be held when both people listen to each other.
Another way I can be a prolife advocate on campus is learning more about why I am pro-life because by learning more about what I believe and why, I am able to more fully have conversations with people about the beauty of being pro-life. One great resource that I love to listen to and strive to be like is Lila Rosa. She has a prolife podcast, website, and goes to various places openly debating those with opposing view as her and explaining her pro-life views with grace and patience.
I believe that my generation, Generation Z, is a pro-life generation. By our witness to the value and sanctity of life, we are influencing modern culture. Perhaps, my generation can even be the one to inspire past and future generations to join the fight for life and value a culture of life. We all have to do our part as we fight for the dignity of every life. By living my life to the fullest and doing my part in the fight for life, this is how I can build a culture of life.
References
A List of Abortion Risks and Complications. (n.d.). from https://www.heartbeatinternational.org/pdf/physical_risks_factsheet.pdf
Bendix, A. (2024, July 23). Iowa’s ban on abortions after 6 weeks will go into effect next week. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/iowa-abortion-law-to-go-into-effect-rcna162810
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d). abortion. In dictionary.cambridge.org. Retrieved May 5, 2025, from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/abortion
Capps, E. and Cantu, M. (2022, November 24). Can Abortion Make You Infertile? Human Life International. Retrieved May 5, 2025. from https://www.hli.org/resources/can-abortion-cause-infertility/
Coleman, P. K. (2018, January 2). Abortion and mental health: Quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995–2009. British Journal of Psychiatry, 199(3), 180–186. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.110.077230
Macrotrends. (2024). U.S. Fertility Rate 1950-2024. Www.macrotrends.net. Retrieved May 5, 2025. from https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/USA/united-states/fertility-rate
Mcall, M. (n.d.). How Did Abortion Become Legal? Findlaw. Retrieved May 5, 2025. from https://www.findlaw.com/healthcare/patient-rights/how-did-abortion-become-legal.html