Ask a Pro-Life Atheist: Olivia Lamoreux

Once a month or so, the Secular Pro-Life blog features a short interview with a pro-life atheist. (See the full series of interviews here.) Although Secular Pro-Life is not exclusively for atheists, historically atheists have played a key role in the organization. As atheists become more prominent in the pro-life movement generally, we’re excited for the opportunity to share their stories. This month, we welcome atheist Olivia Lamoreux.

How did you arrive at the anti-abortion position?

I considered myself pro-choice all through high school and into young adulthood. I knew that personally I would never even consider abortion but thought that there might be a medical necessity and that it wasn’t my place to tell others they shouldn’t have abortions.

At 18 I went to an exhibit about the human body at a museum. This exhibit had a display of human remains from miscarriages preserved in jars that were donated to science. I remember being amazed at how human each stage was. I could never deny the humanity of development in utero after seeing it with my own eyes.

At the age of 21 I became pregnant, and although unexpected I had a lot of support from my family and my boyfriend at the time, now husband. While pregnant I read my first embryology book and became fascinated with everything about my pregnancy and my offspring developing inside me. I then realized how ignorant I was about everything involving pregnancy previously, especially how fast development takes place and how human we all are from the very beginning.

After that point, I became appalled when I would see abortion rhetoric, especially after learning how many women were coerced and lied to by abortion clinics. Abusers and sex traffickers could easily use it to hide their crimes and continue abuse. I learned complications late in pregnancy would not lead to a need for termination but induced early delivery. I started to think about why I was pro-choice and none of the reasons made sense to me anymore.

After the birth of my daughter, I knew that nothing in my mind could justify abortion and the propaganda was strong around this controversial issue.

How did you arrive at the atheist position?

I was raised Catholic and grew up with my mom and grandparents. We went to church every Sunday and I went to catechism classes and Catholic school until 7th grade. Though Catholicism was a big part of my life, my family wasn’t very strict on it. Most of the home influence was based around following the Golden Rule. My grandpa used to tell me that the bible was just stories and not to be taken literally. My grandma would make exceptions to certain beliefs of the church, also by saying confession wasn’t necessary and she would never condemn people for being homosexual or different from us in any way.

I continued to go to church until 17 years old but I came to realize I didn’t agree with most things the church believed. I realized I was only going through the motions of being at the church to appease family and that my beliefs did not align with the church.

At 18 I stopped going and questioned everything the church had taught me. I have always been skeptical and like having proof for most things in life. I met good people that didn’t follow Catholicism or even any organized religion. I discovered that my sense of morality did not change after leaving the church. I felt more sure of my own morals grounded in empathy and a weight was lifted off me when I accepted that religion doesn’t hold the answers.

I still respect anyone who follows an organized religion, but I am much happier not worrying about other worldly things when I haven’t seen evidence of their existence. This lack of religion and knowing I have this one life to live has motivated me to be the best person I can while I’m here. It is also what makes life so precious and valuable: that there is only this one chance to live it.

How do you contribute to the cause of saving lives in the womb?

I strongly support my local Pregnancy Center through donations and participating in events. I like to share information about human development during pregnancy. I continue to help my friends who are parents and raise my daughter. Politically in my state I advocate against current policies that cover abortion through Medicaid and without ultrasounds.

What words of wisdom do you have to share?

My hope is that abortion becomes as taboo as other kinds of premeditated murder. I hope the public comes to view sex as a responsibility, and to educate on all the ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy and find the resources to help when it happens. We can make abortion illegal, but real change comes when the attitude about something changes in the minds of individuals.