Current NFL head coach Jim Harbaugh, former a mainstay in college football with the Michigan’s Wolverines program, has long spoken out against what he deems are the horrors of ending infant life in the womb. A resurfaced interview from 2022 when he coached at the collegiate level has brought his passionate pro-life position back to national attention as his San Diego Chargers make their playoff run.
For context, Harbaugh is no stranger to speaking at events meant to highlight the beauty and sanctity of life and protecting the unborn. He has previously addressed crowds at the annual March for Life, and so it was as the keynote speaker at another event a few years back that he demanded Americans have the “courage to let the unborn be born.”
“In God’s plan, each unborn human truly has a future filled with potential, talent, dreams and love,” Harbaugh said from the stage. “I have living proof in my family, my children, and the many thousands that I’ve coached that the unborn are amazing gifts from God to make this world a better place. To me, the right choice is to have the courage to let the unborn be born.”
Continuing, he said both his Christian faith and science gave him a respect for life. “I believe in having the courage to let the unborn be born,” he added. I love life. I believe in having a loving care and respect for life and death. My faith and my science are what drives these beliefs in me.”
From the Christian perspective, all humans are made in the image of God and take on their unique identity and holiness at the moment of conception. From the perspective of even a materialistic scientific approach, again the moment of conception is when a unique individual with its own DNA is created. Based on this understanding, the former quarterback and long-time coach has concluded defending the lives of the unborn is crucial.
Harbaugh further addressed why he felt he was right to speak on the issue. “Passions can make the process messy, but when combined with respect, it ultimately produces the best outcomes. This process has been passionate and messy, but I have faith in the American people to ultimately develop the right policies and laws for all lives involved,” he went on.
Harbaugh then transitioned to the argument of what type of indifference or action on the part of a government vis-a-vis its legislation, or lack thereof, should look like. Interestingly, government does legislate morality every day, as every law against theft or harms communicates what it deems right or wrong. On the issue of ending pregnancies, the Democrat position wants no government intervention, although Democrats typically have no issue engaging in interventions in other ways.
“I recognize one’s personal thinking regarding morality of a particular action may differ from their thinking on whether government should make that action illegal. There are many things one may hold to be immoral, but the government appropriately allows because of some greater good or personal or constitutional right,” he elaborated.