A similar display was set up right outside of where I worked a few years ago. The lack of intellectual integrity, such as abusing cherry picked quotations from science studies, undermined the message. Didn't seem to be much empathy towards why a woman would feel the need for an abortion, either. The group behind the display weren't all that forthcoming about who was helping to organize volunteers etc. Which after some digging on my part, turned out to be mostly Focus on the Family.

"CT has previously reported on the "ironic" relationship between the pro-life movement and its radical fringe, as well as on adoption as "the best way to stop abortion.""
Shame on you, Christianity Today, for subtly lumping Seth in with extremists who kill abortion doctors.

Also, adoption is NOT the best way to stop abortion. Why go through 9 months of pregnancy, then go through a potentially gut-wrenching separation with your born baby when you can just get rid of a "clump of cells" now? I've heard that countless times from college students.

There are already hundreds of thousands (some estimates are in the millions) of parents in line for adoption.

Covering up the best evidence of an injustice and merely shouting conclusions at people has never been successful in overturning great injustices in the past and it never will. The pro-life movement needs to be chiefly focused on educating the public, debunking pro-choice rhetoric with PROOF of who the preborn is and what abortion does to her. Ignorance is the tools of pro-aborts and when we facilitate that ignorance by covering up the reality of abortion, we play into their hands.

Is this not a matter of life and death?! There is a lack of urgency among Christians about the abortion issue precicely because Christians don't know what it is they're against and who they're protecting. You can't know either with just words; photos, and especially video must be utilized. Think Holocaust and the pieces of the puzzle start to fall in place.

Melissa, I love Westmont College and believe deeply in their mission, but there are some inaccuracies in your blog. Westmont does not officially, nor by virtue of its academic or spiritual life programs, agree with Gruber. In the article you link, Jane Higa simply says "the school doesn't disagree with Gruber's pro life position," but they clearly do not agree with it either. In other words, they are neutral on abortion, as a recent post to all students from the Westmont student body president affirmed.

Many of us are praying that Westmont will take the Biblical position on the sanctity of Life, opposing the dismemberment and killing of unborn children by abortion - 1.2 million every year in America. This pro life stance would serve to put them in alignment with the vast majority of their constituents.

By the way, the photos are horrific not because of their effect on viewers, but because abortion is an unspeakably horrific act.

Further, including a link to an article about violence against abortion doctors, which Mr. Gruber assiduously eschews, as if it were somehow pertinent to his protest, is disingenuous, and completely unfair. In what way does it pertain?

Finally, simple logic tells us that adoption works only with live babies, not when they are killed. There are well over a million parents left wanting for children to adopt. As Mother Teresa so eloquently put it, "Please don't kill the child. I want the child. Please give me the child." There is a profound and fully developed ethic in the pro life community of dealing with both mothers and babies compassionately.

I pray that Westmont will hear the silent screams of millions of unborn babies lovingly created by God in His image, and come to their aid. Their program, as of now, teaches students that it is morally acceptable to turn away.

How is it that this writer knows that Westmont agrees with Gruber's pro life stance? They have yet to take any stance on abortion. I have seen no evidence of a pro-life statement from Westmont. That is a pity.

I hope CT is placing Seth within the "pro-life movement" in general rather than the "radical fringe"! Your last sentence is ambiguous. "Radical fringe" brings up scary people who do dangerous acts. Seth is certainly not doing that - but rather educating in a peaceful manner. What seems unnaturally radical are the responses he receives.

I wonder if CT has taken a position on abortion.

There are a couple of things I need to clarify as both a Westmont College student (and a previous member of Seth's "Right to Life" club) and as a woman who has faced abortion.

First of all, Seth (who I personally know) asked for permission to sponsor CBR on campus and he was denied because the school is not allowed to take an official stance on the issue (just as with many other issues). It would be inappropriate, therefore, for the school to sponsor an anti-abortion group. Then Seth asked for permission from the administration to hold his demonstrations on campus, but he was denied because the school thought that while his intentions were admirable, the approach was crude and unnecessary on a Christian campus.

I would like to point out the error in your article where you say Westmont College "agrees with Gruber's pro-life stance." The school did not agree. The people he talked to agreed on a personal level, but did not say that the school was in agreement because the school is not able to take an official stance on the issue.

Now I ask you to consider what the point of having a graphic and unapproved anti-abortion demonstration in front of our school's dining commons when every student attending the college is "anti-abortion" and most are even considered "anti-choice." Was there anything to be accomplished or gained, besides self-righteous grandstanding? No, there was not. Then when Seth was asked by the administration to stop after receiving complaints regarding his behavior, he refused, and like an immature child, continued to stubbornly hold his offensive and useless demonstrations.

I can say with 100% certainty that Seth's demonstrations not only did practically nothing to raise awareness on abortion, but made him out to be an object of derision and criticism and a source of emotional trauma. Last I heard, every female member, including myself, quit his right to life club and there are many students, including myself, who are calling for either a new president of the club, or the abolition of the club as a whole. If the president cannot conduct himself in a manner conducive to the community life statement and club agreement he signed, then he is not fit to run a club that is given funds by the school's activities committee. Also, Westmont College has begun to be criticized internationally for a demonstration that it neither put on nor endorsed. People have gotten a false image of the college and are spreading negativity and false rumors that are seriously damaging the school's image. If Seth truly cared about the school and it's student body he would have thought of these things before he acted so hastily and foolishly.

Now as a woman who has faced abortion and had to make that choice, and even temporarily chose abortion before backing out at last minute, I had a tough time finding my stance on the issue. On one hand, I knew that I personally could not choose abortion, but that was just it. That was my personal choice and I realized the choice I made may not be the choice for another woman who conceived a child out of rape or could not care for the child or themselves. I realized that I could never force my decision onto another woman after having faced those emotions and that choice myself. Seth's demonstration helped me see this. It was through his vulgar, graphic, and hateful demonstration that I realized that it was just as "morally abhorrent" to force a decision upon someone against their will, especially on such a personal matter. Do understand that I am not "pro-abortion," I am pro-life and pro-choice. I support a person's (including a fetus) right to life, but I also support a person's right to make personal choices. I believe that if we stop "slut shaming" and have better sexual education and support for pregnant women (especially teens, rape victims, and underprivileged women) and only make abortion available in hospitals, we can lower abortion rates without banning the practice.

I have both seen and experienced the emotional damage done by Seth's demonstrations. I think he should be ashamed of himself for causing so much harm and doing absolutely no good. His actions were poorly thought out and ended up making him look bad while harming his school and peers. I do hope that he ends his arrogant pride and feels ashamed for what he has done. He is no saint and his efforts do not merit applause. Through his actions he has done nothing good for anyone, especially the precious fetuses he was trying so desperately to save.

Katie, I agree that sometimes pro-life methods are too extreme, meant to be inflammatory rather than promote reasonable discussion and respectful argumentation. I do see a flaw (in my view) in what you say about being pro-life and pro-choice. You say that it's not your place to tell another woman what to do, for example, when she will be unable to take care of a child. I understand your point, but this is still not central to the issue. The question remains, is the unborn child just as much a human being with the same dignity and rights as the mother who cannot take care of her? Taking it a step further, would it be acceptable to kill a child after birth, because the child cannot be taken care of? There are literally thousands and thousands of people who are waiting to adopt. The bottom line is that if you say I cannot impose my choice upon others, than you cannot impose basic moral codes such as laws against murdering anybody.

Here is a link to a Westmont Chapel talk from April 2009 (current students wouldn't have been there). I remember this being a powerful and good talk.
http://www.westmont.edu/media/chapel/media/s09_chapel_mp3/04-01-09.mp3

Katie,

You ask what the point is of showing Seth's pictures when everyone at Westmont was "pro-life."

Well, your answered you own question when you followed up by stating you were "pro-life and pro-choice."

If you are comfortable choosing bloody slaughter, perhaps you haven't stopped and looked long enough at what think is an tough but valid decision for some.

Diana, I must agree with David that your logic is flawed. You are anti-abortion yet cannot force your opinion on others. Really? Would God agree with your statement concerning all the Ten Commandments, not just "Thou shall not kill/murder"? Would he approve of you saying," I'm personsally opposed to stealing, but if you want to steal, I cannot tell you no." Or how about adultery, "I am personally opposed, but for those women who must make a decision, I cannot tell you not to." Need I go on?

As a Christian at a Christisn college we must fight the popular culture of death the same way Jesus bucked the culture. All around us we see pre-marital sex, abortion, divorce, adultery - all of which promote societal decay and poverty. We as Christians are supposed to be a light unto the world to spread the Gospel, virtue, ethics, family values, chastity, integrity, charity, hope and of course, love. We do not hide our light under a bushel basket called "I can't advocate for God to others".

Katie, you did a wonderful and heroic act of love but choosing life instead of abortion. You understand that God loves both you and your baby equally, more than you could ever love one another. Sing it from the mountain tops.

And by the way, adoption is the answer for the majority of cases of unwed expectant mothers. Children need the benefit of a mother AND father for proper developement - the way God planned it.

Lord Jesus, our Savior, give us the strength to be like you, and give glory to God.

Whoops! I apologize for getting Katie, Diana and Aaron mixed up. Katie is heroic for choosing life instead of abortion and should be a light for others to follow her example - not a permission slip for those who choose wrongly.

As a graduate nof Westmont, I am disturbed by the article and by some of the posted reactions above.

Just why can't Westmont take an official public position on the question of abortion? I quickly draw a conclusion that Westmont feels it can't take an official position on the question because of certain publically funded grants and priveleges that it has received that enable many of the academic enhancements it offers to its students.

That is a tragic condition. Under the Constitution, that classifies as interfering in freedom of expression. I am sure that the Board and the Administration feel that they do not want to risk the loss of these priveleges and what it would mean to what they can offer to students in the academic program.

I understand that facing such a problem is tough. However, the most important questions we face in life are usually very tough. After all, if they are not tough, they aren't really a problem.

If the government put a knife in the Westmont's President's hand and said, "Kill that student club leader!" what would the President do even if it meant the loss of all its grants and priveleges?

One of the problems in our society today is that Christians too often yield on the tough questions which results in the unraveling of the the social fabric of our society. Our society has become more crude, vulgar, and repulsive

We don't always have to make a big demonstration but we should never shirk when confronted with a direct question.

Could it be that Seth is concerned that the Westmont administration and the Westmont students are not taking as strong a public position as they should? I hope all of us would feel a bit squeemish over the ugly, bloody, brutal pictures that he displayed. As a veteran, I have viewed mangled bodies and severed body parts more than I like to remember. But I have no qualms about having bombed and strafed the enemy troops and villages so that my loved ones would not become those cadaveras on the field.

And I have no qualms about standing in a demonstration holding up signs and pictures as I protest the gruesome practice of abortion which may cause a distressing emotional response in some passing woman while I hope it stirs up repugnance against the abhorant practice of abortion in the minds of all others who pass the demonstration.

Such activities and such responses are part of the price humanity pays for the sin of mankind which resulted in the act of God in giving His Son through the revolting and repugnant execution on the cross of Calvary.

I want to first express the validity of all the arguments posted here, whether anti- or pro-choice.

I would also like to acknowledge that, like Gregory said, adoption is NOT a solution to abortion. Several of you have mentioned that there are thousands or even millions of couples waiting to adopt. If this is the case, then why do we still have so many unadopted children? The reason is because adoption is not always an option for parents. Adoption is ridiculously expensive and complicated.

I also get frustrated with arguments like David's. Not every abortion is a "bloody slaughter."

People who are interesting in adopting should check if any local churches help facilitate adoption for very low cost or at no cost to the parents. I know of a few in the Seattle area. It's not something they go around announcing, but it's one of the things they do to help families.

Adoption has always been the answer to orphans. The problem today is there are not enough babies thanks to the legal murder of babies. As a woman, I'm ashamed that well over 52 million of the unborn have been chemically killed, had their brains sucked out while being born and dumped aside to die alone without comfort because obama said to do that if the baby after treatment is still alive. This country is 350 million, if we keep this rate of killing our young this country will not exist. My neighbors went to S.America for two babies because the lists they were on were ridiculously long. And, wow, a Christian college can't stand up for not killing the innocent, seems to me that's the problem with Christians today, not willing to go to the cross and die. That college needs to close. A puppy set on fire in our area got more sympathy than a baby in it's carrier's womb being killed. Planned Parenthood (the main killer of babies) is still in business and those trying to kill the puppy are in jail. This is the U.S. today. I do not approve of abuse of animals or babies. As for women, please, in this age of longevity, what the heck is 9 months out of a woman's life to save her future sanity and make another woman happy who can't have children. As for rape, the sins of the father visited upon the children, good thing all the sins of fathers aren't visited upon their children. What does Jesus say about sin of one visited upon the innocent one.

Katie,
You cannot have “100% certainty” that Seth’s activities have not had any positive effect. Firstly, you are not a mind reader. Secondly, your assertion is in direct contradiction to some of the positive feedback Seth has already received from students.

You also assert that Seth acted “hastily” without thinking it through first. This is also false, not the least reason for which is the fact that he’s been trying to bring graphic imagery to Westmont for 3 years. I’ve also been privy to emails discussing the possibility of him bringing signs to his campus.

You characterize Seth’s display as “hateful”. How? He’s holding a truthful sign of abortion. He hasn’t said anything disparaging about women who have gotten abortions. It is NOT an act of compassion to obscure the sins of others by helping them pretend that what they did isn’t wrong through hiding the truth, covering it up. Paul tells us to “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Stats show that 50% of women who have had abortions reported having a previous abortion. A big effect and aim of what Seth is doing is helping to assure that women are educated enough about what abortion is so they won’t make the same mistake again.

“Slut-shaming” was a poor choice of words. Have you ever heard Seth call women who have gotten abortions sluts, or anything else disparaging? I seriously doubt it.

We, as a society, can both outlaw abortion -except in the cases where the life of the mother is in imminent danger- AND care for mother and baby, better support adoption services, etc.

Americans do not wrest themselves from an entrenched societal injustice until they are disturbed enough by that injustice. This has been proven time and again: slavery, child labor, separate but equal (Emmett Till), etc. The good Seth is doing educating people with the disturbing truth of abortion, for when he does, people are less likely to abort and/or pay for abortion, they are less likely to support a political candidate who is pro-abortion, and Seth is more likely to inspire others to fight against abortion. Pictures can do what words alone cannot.

What makes you think he’s acting out of arrogance, the fact that he’s not backing down?

Rachel M,
I didn’t say adoption was not a solution; I said it was not the best way to stop abortion. Adoption is a very important part of the equation.

Also, you’re right – not every abortion is a bloody slaughter, but the vast majority of them are. But how would anyone know if they never saw abortion procedures, right?

Finally,
Just a reminder: every social reformer of great injustice has faced persecution from without his cultural group and from within. Let’s take a cue from Seth and maintain fortitude in our efforts to bring Christ’s truth to the world, despite persecution, and indeed because of it.

As a current Westmont student, who knows both Seth and Katie, I think there has been some miscommunications here. First of all, I want to congratulate and support Katie. She faced a tough decision, one that most of us will never face. She speaks from a position of experience and I find it frustrating that so many of these responses are disregarding that. Second of all, Seth was offered on multiple occasions a chance to put up his protest. Instead, however, he chose to display those graphic images in front of the cafeteria during prime eating hours. Those images were so emotionally disturbing I know of many students who chose not to eat those days.
This whole article and the responses, except for those posted by current students, show a misunderstanding of this incident. I do not mean to make a statement on the abortion issue at all. I just mean to say that as Christians we are called to love. Few, if any, felt loved by Seth that day.
I know I didn't.