Over many years I’ve read several books and dozens of articles about abortion, for and against—some by Christians, many not. One of the first was Fr. James T. Burchaell’s Rachel Weeping: The Case Against Abortion. That impassioned and eloquent theological study was replete with accounts of women who’d chosen abortion. I’ve considered that book the benchmark for all pieces on abortion, pro or con.
Until retired Christian Reformed Pastor Cameron Fraser’s Evangelicals and Abortion (hereafter E&A) was published, though, I’d never read a book opposed to wholesale abortion so reasonably and peaceably written. With some surprise, I kept nodding at paragraph upon paragraph and jotting far more positive margin notes than negative.
Not only is E&A a well-reasoned book; it is a brief, yet comprehensive piece thoroughly researched, with dozens of footnotes, discussion questions after each chapter, an index, and a bibliography. Fraser also added a Christianity Today article about Norma McCorvey (a.k.a. “Jane Roe”). That disturbing appendix chronicles the tragic life of the woman behind the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that opened up virtually unrestricted abortion. Not always easy to read, E&A soberly covers the vast historical territory in the often overheated abortion debate.
E&A surveys the history of abortion legislation, including the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision. In that survey he cites “pro-choice” sources, comparing them to “pro-life” advocacy. Fraser opposes violence against abortionists and abortion clinics, strongly criticizing those resorting to such extremes; they simply discredit compassionate Christian advocates of legislated abortion.
Though taking a clear stand against fully open or unlegislated abortion (there is no law regulating abortion in Canada), Fraser writes with deep empathy and equanimity of spirit for women who contemplate and choose abortion, qualities I’ve rarely seen in the literature. He is never mean-spirited in his argument and always keeps fetuses’ lives in mind. Fraser takes a dialectical approach to the topic, telling readers how over decades his position has developed. His personal and honest “on-one-hand-this” but “on-the-other-hand-that” conversation with himself is winsome and compelling.
By no means do all Christians agree on how to legislate abortion for the greatest good for the greatest number—or even what the greatest good might be. Thus, Fraser’s step-by-step path actually helps readers walk with him to understand his personal decision, even if not all fully agree with him.
Fraser subtly foreshadows his eventual position in the Introduction. There he sketches the beginnings of Crisis Pregnancy Centres, highlighting the establishment of Vancouver’s CPC, finally noting “there are now more CPCs in the USA than there are abortion clinics.” On the last page, Fraser effectively bookends that introduction of CPCs with this brief, irenic advocacy: “(I)t is not insignificant that the Christian Action Council with its legislative focus found it more effective to transform itself into Care Net with emphasis on pregnancy care centers and related ministries”.
If you’re looking for a book about history, attitudes and practices for Christians in the abortion debate, Pastor Cameron Fraser’s Evangelicals and Abortion offers stimulating reading for book clubs or your church’s small group discussions. (Wipf &Stock)
About the Author
James Dekker lives in St. Catharines, Ont. He worked for Resonate Global Mission in Latin America for nine years and nine more pastoring missionaries after serving three Canadian Christian Reformed churches for 27 years in between.