We’ve all been there.
A chat at work, a family meal, or a university discussion suddenly turns tense. Someone says, “It’s her body, her choice,” and everyone goes quiet.
Abortion is one of those subjects people fear touching. The moment it’s mentioned, people assume they already know what you’re going to say. Yet in my experience, a few simple words can change everything. Not to win an argument, but to open a heart.
Here are five words that can transform the conversation – and perhaps even the person you’re speaking to.
1. Human
We don’t need philosophy to answer when life begins. Biology has already done that for us. From conception, a new and distinct human life exists: not part of the mother, not a “potential” person, but a unique individual with their own DNA, sex and future.
The word human is disarming because it’s simple and factual. It cuts through slogans and reminds us what’s at stake. Not an issue, but a someone.
2. Person
Once people accept the science, the question often shifts. “But are they a person?”
That’s where the real moral question lies. What makes any of us a person worth protecting? If personhood depends on size, ability or independence, then none of us are safe.
The pro-life view is radical in the best sense of the word: that every human being, from the tiniest embryo to the most vulnerable adult, has equal worth. Not because of what they can do, but because of who they are.
3. Compassion
Pro-life isn’t about condemning women. It’s about standing with them.
Many women who consider abortion do so because they feel they have no real alternative. No one plans for that situation; it’s often fear, pressure or despair that drives the decision.
If we start from compassion, we start in the right place. We say: You don’t have to face this alone. There is another way.
That’s what drives so much of SPUC’s work. Real compassion refuses to give up on either life – mother or child.
4. Choice
The word choice is often presented as the great moral trump card. Yet if a woman feels trapped, if she’s choosing between poverty and panic, that’s not real choice at all.
We should want women to have better choices, not fewer lives. Real choice means practical support, community and hope. It means a society that tells women they are strong enough to choose life, and that we will stand with them when they do.
5. We
Perhaps the most important word of all is “we”.
Because this isn’t about “you” versus “me”. It’s about us – who we are, what kind of society we want to be, and how we treat the most vulnerable among us.
When we use “we”, we remind people that this question belongs to everyone. Each one of us once relied on someone else’s protection. Every one of us was once small, unseen and dependent.
Changing Hearts, One Word at a Time
Words have power. They can wound or heal, divide or unite. The way we talk about life can make the difference between despair and hope, between someone shutting down or leaning in.
So next time the subject comes up – perhaps in a place you least expect – try these five words. Say them gently, and mean them. Because when truth is spoken with compassion, people listen. And sometimes, hearts change.
Be Part of That Change
If this message speaks to you, join us. Subscribe to SPUC’s updates, share this article, and add your voice to a growing movement that believes every life matters – and every conversation counts.
Together, we can make sure compassion and truth are never silent.
If you’re reading this and haven’t yet donated to SPUC, please consider helping now. Thank You!
