Tennessee Bill Would Force Women to Obtain Approval from Preborn’s Father for an Abortion. Why it May Be Problematic.

There’s a bill currently floating around the Tennessee state senate that would allow a man to obtain a court order to prevent a woman from having an abortion if he is the father. Though incredibly well-intentioned, it’s also somewhat problematic as well, especially for those championing the pro-life cause.

Known as Senate Bill 494, it states that “a person may petition a court with jurisdiction over domestic relations to request an injunction to prohibit a woman who is pregnant with the person’s unborn child from obtaining an abortion…Within fourteen (14) days of the petition being filed, the court shall hold a hearing at which both parties may present evidence.”

As part of the process, the man has to show that he is the likely father. At this point, there is no DNA requirement or clause regarding what happens if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.

There are many incredible stories of women who decided to carry their child after a sexual assault and either raise their child or give him or her up for adoption. It’s a life-affirming decision that a mother should have the power to make herself, especially after her bodily autonomy has been so violently invaded. Forcing the decision on her by allowing the rapist to potentially dictate what happens, after she’s already been traumatized, is not the answer.

Rebecca Kiessling, a pro-life family attorney who herself was conceived in rape, said in response to the case, “Maybe they wouldn’t abort or give the child up for adoption if they knew they were protected.”

The pro-life community wants to come alongside and assist a woman who is struggling with the idea of having a child alone and help her make the decision for life. A court order forcing the issue may not be the best way to do it.

If a law like this passes, unfortunately, the abortion industry will benefit from every story of a woman who is being legally forced by a man to continue a pregnancy.

The pro-abortion lobby often states that the pro-life movement is led mostly by white men who care little for women and only for babies. It isn’t, but that hasn’t stopped the pro-abortion media from running with it and using this narrative to smear any pro-life legislation that’s been introduced, especially if it’s mostly supported by men.

The Guardian has a headline that states, “These 25 Republicans—all white men—just voted to ban abortion in Alabama.” Would the bill go over better if it was female-led or if at least one woman signed on? The answer is yes.

The Nation has an article entitled, “The Long History of the Anti-Abortion Movement’s Links to White Supremacists.” Its first line states, “The anti-abortion movement in the United States has long been complicit with white supremacy.” Not a rousing endorsement.

This bill just plays into that pro-abortion narrative and validates it to those who are on the fence about abortion.

Future fathers should have the right to advocate for their child, but the best way to do that is through mediation, counseling and discussion, not court petitions.

The other allegation against the pro-life movement is that it only cares that the baby is born, not what happens to the mother or her financial, emotional, physical and spiritual security as she embarks on her new journey as a parent. This bill just perpetuates that false allegation, and it would just provide ammunition for the abortion industry to use against pro-life pregnancy resource centers and other pro-life bills.

An op-ed in The Salt Lake Tribune states, “After looking at the issue closely, it is plain to see that the Republican party is the party of pro-embryo, pro-fetus, forced birth and anti-refugee. They are not pro-life, pro-child, pro-mother, pro-health, pro-safety, or pro-family.”

That’s not true, and we in the pro-abortion movement know it isn’t, but since the media is so dominated by pro-abortion activists that we must approach issues carefully so that we don’t alienate women who are considering life, but just need some support.

The pro-life movement wants to protect babies and support parents, and the best way to do that is to empower mothers and fathers to make the decision to embrace parenthood or pursue adoption for themselves, without resorting to the courts to force the issue.

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