February 6, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) – On Saturday, February 1, I was privileged to be included as a speaker at the SpeakOut Illinois Conference, which included many other gifted speakers such as Shawn Carney from 40 Days For Life and Eric Scheidler. I was on a panel discussing the “hard cases” with Dr. Pam Smith, Ob/Gyn and past president of American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Lisa Youngblood, a mother who became pregnant after sexual assault from the date rape drug. There was a lot of interest in this topic — we spoke to overflowing groups in the conference room. Dr. Smith stressed the reality of treating two patients and choosing procedures which are intended to give both lives the greatest chance at survival. Lisa spoke of the healing nature of pregnancy and birth after sexual assault and that trust in God and family support are the key components in coping with the extreme trauma of conceiving from rape.
I then told my story: In November 2005, I was completely devastated when I learned that I was conceived when my birthmother was raped while walking home from work one night in the late summer of 1957. And then in 2008, I finally discovered my birthmother's identity, only to learn that she had died just one year prior. Healing from the shock of all this news was made possible by a renewal of my faith and trust in God, and by a growing energy inside that inspired me to look for ways to give back to the system which legally protected me while I was yet unborn. Learning of others with similar stories put an end to the sensation of being the only one on the planet with this story, which was also a huge psychological boost. Joining Save The 1 and speaking out on this issue has given my life added purpose. My last healing step was to visit my birthmother’s grave, in order to spiritually reunite. I removed a little gold baby feet pin I was wearing and cemented it into the rosary cut into the granite as a way to honor and remember our brief time together so many years ago.
Many interesting questions were asked afterwards, which allowed us to add some details about our stories. The question I found most provocative and important was this: If you were President of the United States, would you sign a bill outlawing abortion if it had a rape exception?
My answer was and is an unequivocal “NO.” This question is often asked of one pro-life person by another as a test, so it seems. It asks: “Just how pro-life are you, really?” It is sometimes used to divide rather than unite — often a point of debate when discussing incremental laws. It is similar to the question we ask to challenge those who are pro-abortion when they argue abortion must be legal to protect pregnant rape victims: “Would you be willing to accept abortion being illegal if we allow abortion in cases of rape?”
Abortion was legalized in the U.S. because of a false rape-pregnancy story — Norma McCorvey/Jane Roe’s. The law needs to protect all, or it ultimately protects none. We discussed the difficulties — the near impossibility — of enforcement and verification of a rape exception attached to an abortion ban. Additional exceptions are only a court decision away from being added back to the list based on the existence of one (rape) exception, which, of course, only continues legalized abortion.
The abortion ban/rape exception hypothetical breaks down when you witness that the enforcement problems are not mere speculation. One of the attendees of the session was Ina Silva Sobolewski, founder of Brazil4Life, born in Brazil, now living in Chicago. Ina stated that in Brazil, where abortion is otherwise illegal, women often get their abortions by claiming rape. In multiple scenarios, abortions are accomplished through a rape claim — especially when the abortion is publicly funded and the rape justification is no more than a check mark in a box on a form. Ending the rape exception is key to ending abortion.
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A solemn memorial to the lives lost to abortion brought closure to the conference. Four stories were represented: a single birthmother who parented her child; a birthmom who surrendered her child in an open adoption; an adoptee; and a post-abortive mother who regrets her decision. I represented the adoptee perspective and offered these words of tribute and remembrance to my parents and birthmother:
Good afternoon. My name is Jim Sable, and I was adopted. Adoption has touched my life and the life of my family in such profound and amazing ways. I have one adopted sister. My wife, Wendy, is also adopted with two adopted sisters. We are currently in the early stages of the adoption process hoping to bring a daughter into our home to join our three sons.
My parents were tremendous examples of God’s grace and love. They gave me a life. Adoption provided them a family when nature would not. Through Divine grace, my birthmother gave me life. Single and pregnant, she knew she was unprepared for motherhood.
The feelings surrounding being adopted can be complex and sometimes it takes a while to connect to the love that was required to surrender a child. But it was that love and courage that gave me my family – my parents, my wife, and my children and I will never be able to repay my birthmother for those gifts. I love a woman I never met, yet, spent almost nine months growing inside her. My love for her grew ever stronger when I discovered I was conceived when she was sexually assaulted while walking home from work one late summer evening in 1957. I thank you for my life, mom, with a feeling so deep that it can hardly be expressed in words.
I light this candle for all the adopted children given life by courageous women.
I was truly blessed to be part of this important conference. Please see our Save The 1 website for more information about the rape exception. Also, other resources are available, including the new documentary, “Conceived In Rape and Other Exceptions, “ which includes an interview of me and my lovely wife Wendy.
Jim Sable is a speaker for Save The 1, a pro-life organization dedicated to opposing exceptions in abortion laws.