In a striking turn of events at one of America’s most elite universities, Lila Rose decisively won a formal debate on abortion at Yale University.
On September 16, Yale Political Union, a student-run debate society hosted a debate on abortion. The topic was “Abortion and Human Rights.” The specific resolution, “Choice over Life,” urged students to consider whether abortion should be defended as a right.
After over two hours of debate and discussion, the audience rejected the resolution by a vote of 60-31, giving Rose and the pro-life community a resounding victory.
Rose posted this on X immediately following the event:
The debate pitted Lila Rose, founder and president of 0 and Frances Kissling, an abortion rights activist and former head of Catholics for Choice, against each other.
Each side was given time for opening remarks, cross-examination and rebuttals.
As reported by Rose’s organization, Live Action, Kissling “focused her argument on the false claim that preborn children are not as valuable as other human beings.” While Rose contended that preborn children are being “denied their humanity” and drew connections to slavery and the Holocaust to demonstrate what happens when groups of people are stripped of their humanity.
Rose built her argument for life on the principles of science and morality. She emphasized that life begins at conception and that the baby in the womb is fully human with equal value to born people. She stressed the importance of pregnancy help organizations for pregnant women and that the pro-life position cares deeply about protecting women and the vulnerable in society.
Kissling argued that it was important for women to make their own decisions about what is best for their bodies. She tried to frame the abortion issue as a matter of balancing values, and that ultimately, women should balance what is best for them.
Following the debate, National Catholic Register reported on the responses of several Yale students, including a female art history major at Yale who said Rose was the clear winner because “she came in with a sense of humility and also with a deep sense of wanting to do justice….”
A senior reflected that Rose won the debate fair and square “with a secular, logical argument centered on the humanity of the unborn child.” This student was especially moved by Rose’s ability to speak on the topic with eloquence and precision.
After her decisive win, Rose told the National Catholic Register, “I think we’re going to keep doing this….”
She insisted that the prolife movement is going to win on every college campus because it has the truth on its side.
She said, “We can’t be scared, we can’t back down. I think more than ever, we need to stand up and speak out in love. And I think this is a tipping point, or, as Charlie [Kirk] would say, it’s a turning point.”
Rose posted a video on X before the debate explaining that she initially declined to attend the event due to a packed schedule and family commitments, but after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, she felt a sense of calling to go. In the video, she urged people of faith and conscience not to be afraid to speak the truth with love.
Thank you, Lila Rose, for listening to the call of the Holy Spirit to defend truth and God’s design. May we all heed the calling to be light in our spheres of influence for God’s glory.
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