The Abortion Paradox: Why Do Human Rights and Social Justice Movements Forget the Unborn?

The spring semester’s Bread of Life dinner took place on April 13th and featured remarks by Notre Dame political science professor (and Fund to Protect Human Life committee member), Dan Philpott. Philpott enlightened those in attendance with an insightful reflection entitled, "The Abortion Paradox: Why Do Human Rights and Social Justice Movements Forget the Unborn?,"in which he described the divide that separates many social justice issues from abortion. There are many international and national organizations that strive for economic and social justice and the protection of human rights in line with Catholic Social Teaching, Philpott said. Yet these organizations, and the movements behind them, often exclude abortion as such an issue. However, the right to life, he added, is essentially tied to the principles behind these movements. Part of our work, Philpott suggested, is to show others the underlying connection between the pro-life position and the tenets of the human rights and social justice movements.