Statement on Abortion Abolitionism

The Board of Directors of Connect Life Wisconsin is committed to advancing the protection of human life through strategies that are both effective and compassionate. We are focused on connection and collaboration by bringing together Wisconsin life-affirming pregnancy resource centers to help equip, encourage, unify and empower a culture of life in Wisconsin.

We recognize that within the pro-life community, there are diverse perspectives on how best to achieve this goal. It is our view that the approach known as “abortion abolitionism”, while well-intentioned, may not align with the incremental and holistic strategies that have proven effective in building unity and supporting women. It is our opinion that certain elements of this approach could present legal, cultural, and political challenges that may impact long-term progress toward protecting human life.

We believe that the mission of pregnancy centers is best supported through comprehensive efforts that include education, compassionate care, and cultural transformation. Furthermore, we find the abortion abolitionist approach to be incongruent with the work of pregnancy centers as pregnancy centers cannot both openly advocate for criminalizing women and remain safe harbors for them. Therefore, we reaffirm our commitment to approaches that empower women and families through support, understanding and hope. This perspective will continue to guide our organizational decisions, partnerships, and public communications.