Medical decisions are the most personal decisions any person faces, and we must always be very cautious about involving the government in the difficult choices life can present. As the father of two adopted children, I am deeply troubled when abortion becomes a matter of personal or social convenience. There are alternatives, and I believe we should offer support — not judgement — for those who find themselves dealing with the most difficult of choices. That is especially true when a pregnancy results from rape or incest, or seriously threatens a woman’s life or health.

Roe v. Wade has been the law of the land for decades, and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. While reasonable people holding deeply-held beliefs can disagree, that decision establishes certain rights and limitations regarding abortion — and is today the legal framework within which policies and laws must be enacted. That’s how our system works.

As medical advances occur and our understanding of viability changes, we must deal with them in a civil, respectful manner.