#66: AHA: The Anti-Abortionists Who Fight Other Pro-Lifers (with Jonathon Van Maren - Part 1)

NOTE: For some technical reason this episode didn't publish on podcast feeds before, so we're posting it now. Scroll down to catch the second part of this series in episode 67. Thanks!

Jonathon Van Maren joins the podcast to discuss what is going on with a hostile anti-abortion group called Abolish Human Abortion (AHA). This is the first of a two-part series. In this episode, Jonathon discusses AHA's origin, their slander of the pro-life movement, how they are not Wilberforce-style abolitionists, and how they're attempting to rewrite their history now.

Related Links:

Josh Brahm: AHA Attacks Justice For All for “Not Treating Abortion Like Sin”

Jonathon Van Maren: How “Abolish Human Abortion” Gets History Wrong - Part 1

Jonathon Van Maren: How “Abolish Human Abortion” Gets History Wrong Again - Part 2

YouTube: Debate: Pro-Life Incrementalism vs Abolitionist Immediatism (Gregg Cunningham vs. T. Russell Hunter)

We referenced Dr. Michael New's research on the effects of pro-life legislation. While much of his work is behind various paywalls, he helpfully sent a link to a 2018 policy analysis he wrote for the Charlotte Lozier Institute, where he summarized the academic research on the impact of pro-life laws:
https://bit.ly/3o4Ek6m

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:01 Josh on the pro-life unity happening in this episode
02:43 Why we're talking about AHA
08:37 AHA's origin
27:21 The difference between critiquing in good faith and bad faith
31:42 Problems with AHA-supported legislation
33:10 Pro-life victories and AHA's slander
38:09 Why are abortion rates down?
39:44 Straw-manning or unintelligent?
40:59 "And then what?"
42:29 They're not Wilberforce-style abolitionists

Jonathon Van Maren is the Communications Director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform. His writings have been translated into more than six languages, and published in the National Post, National Review, First Things, The European Conservative, The Federalist, The American Conservative, The Stream, the Jewish Independent, the Hamilton Spectator, Reformed Perspective Magazine, among others. His insights have been featured on CTV, Global News, and the CBC, as well as over twenty radio stations. He regularly speaks on a variety of social issues at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions in Canada, the United States, and Europe.