Billy Graham: ‘We must seek to protect all human life’

Billy Graham has died at the age of 99. In his near-century of life, the famous evangelist witnessed the destruction that legal abortion has caused women and the world. As a respected Christian leader, Billy Graham said that he knew all life is precious to God and that abortion is therefore wrong. As a family man, he saw first-hand the stress that an unplanned pregnancy can cause, when his 16-year-old granddaughter became pregnant. It’s perhaps, because of this, that Graham reached out to post-abortive women with compassion and to women considering abortion with the truth. He likely hoped that they, like his granddaughter, would choose to participate in the beauty of life, despite its difficulties.

Here are some of the top pro-life quotes from Billy Graham:

In response to post-abortive woman “consumed with grief”:

On society’s indifference to abortion:

In response to a pregnant, single young woman considering abortion:

On why abortion is a big issue for Christians:

To a young man praying for his girlfriend to consider aborting his child:

To the parents of a 16-year-old girl facing an unplanned pregnancy:

While Billy Graham was clearly against abortion, he did, on occasion, state that he believed abortion is acceptable in rare circumstances such as rape and incest as well as when the pregnancy is causing health problems for the mother, or if the preborn child has been diagnosed with a health condition. However, abortion is never necessary.

In cases of pregnancy by acts of rape and incest, abortion is a second act of violence against the woman as well as the killing of her innocent child. Rape and incest are horrific injustices and women who experience them need healing and the support of their community; however, abortion puts to death an innocent child for the crimes of the father.

As for pregnancies that cause concerns for the life and health of the mother, abortion is not the solution. Doctors should work to save both mother and child by attempting to stabilize the mother for as long as possible until her child can be delivered. An emergency C-section is much safer than a late-term abortion which takes at least two days to complete. Former abortionist Dr. Anthony Levatino explains:

A Conversation with a Former Abortionist: Is abortion ever medically necessary?

As for preborn children diagnosed with a medical condition, abortion is an act of discrimination. Even if a child is predicted to die at birth, that child deserves to live a life during which he is loved for the amount of time he has – whether that is five hours outside the womb or five minutes. If the child has been diagnosed with a chronic health condition, she also deserves to live her life. Disabilities do not define a human being’s value.

One of the sons of Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, has continued his father’s legacy in speaking out for life. Franklin Graham regularly posts messages affirming the life of every child and speaking out against abortion on his Facebook page.