Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the secular case against abortion?

We outline our position here.

Where can I read more about secular arguments against abortion?

Besides our blog, we have this recommended reading list.

Are the people who lead SPL actually secular, or just advancing secular arguments?

Our Executive Director, Board President, and Board Vice President are atheists (see here). Our volunteers come in all stripes, including atheists, agnostics, new age thinkers, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and others.

Do I need to be secular to be included?

No. SPL is atheist-led, but it’s not atheist-only. We are specifically interested in creating space for atheist, agnostic, and other non-religious people to do anti-abortion work, but we are also happy to work with people of any faith and no faith who are with us on the abortion issue. Part of our mission is to build interfaith coalitions of people interested in advancing secular arguments against abortion.

Is SPL a “whole life” or “consistent life ethic” group?

No. SPL is specifically an anti-abortion organization. While SPL has frequently done anti-abortion work in partnership with Consistent Life Ethic organizations, and while our leadership and volunteers are passionate about (variously) animal rights, capital punishment, rape culture, sustainable energy, foster care, disability rights, and much more, SPL as an organization takes no formal stances on these and other issues.

Does SPL support the use of contraception?

Yes. We outline our thoughts on contraception here.

Does SPL fight to make abortion illegal in all cases?

We believe abortion (meaning medications or procedures with the foreseeable effect of ending an embryo or fetus’s life) must be accessible if it’s necessary to save a woman’s life. We take no position on whether abortion in cases of rape should be legal, instead leaving the discussion open and publishing essays both for and against (see here).

I’m looking for a rebuttal to a specific pro-choice argument.

We’ve created an Abortion Debate Index where we’ve organized resources responding to dozens of common pro-choice claims. We continue to expand the index over time. Let us know if there’s a category you’d like us to address.

I’d like to hear more about your projects and content.

Thanks for your interest! We try to email updates several times a month. You can subscribe to our email newsletter here.

How can I get involved?

Thanks for your interest! Here are our donor and volunteer opportunities. If you’d like to volunteer, please fill out this survey. If you’d like to let us know how SPL work has impacted you, consider submitting a testimonial.