What Should We Call Them?

Fetus. Baby. Clump of cells. Preborn. Unborn.

In the abortion debate, there are a number of different ways people refer to the entity in the womb, and they all come with different baggage. 

It probably won’t surprise you that there are disagreements between pro-choice and pro-life advocates as far as which terms to use, but it doesn’t stop there! For years, it’s even been a debate amongst pro-lifers. After all, language can matter an awful lot when it comes to perception and psychology. It’s only natural for us to push for terms that we believe are most effective in helping our society understand the value of the human in the womb.

At ERI, we often get questions about the words we choose to use and the scenarios we use them in. I’d like to take this opportunity to give you not just an approved word bank, but also a look into our thought process.

Photo by Lunarcaustic

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Were Horton’s Friends Guilty of Attempted Murder?

Photo: A milk thistle blooming in summer

Have you read Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a Who? If you’re pro-life, you might have quoted its most famous line: “A person’s a person, no matter how small.” But the story as a whole is…kind of intense. Horton the elephant is in the middle of a relaxing swim, when he hears a very soft voice calling for help. He looks around, but all he sees is a small speck of dust, and he realizes he’s actually hearing a microscopically tiny person (a Who, as it turns out) on the speck calling for his help. The speck is floating toward the water, and the tiny person is afraid he’ll drown. So Horton carefully picks up the speck and places it on a soft clover—because, as Horton says, “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”

Practical Tips for 40 Days for Life Volunteers

MP3 Download | 1:22:27

It’s October, and 40 Days for Life campaigns are in full swing! Josh, Emily, and Rebecca share and react to short video tips sent in from pro-life activists from around the country on how to effectively participate in your local 40 Days for Life campaign. (SPOILER ALERT: it’s not as hard as you think!)

Listener Mail: Lightning Round! Part 2 (w/ Monica Snyder)

MP3 Download | 1:06:31

LIGHTNING!!! (in slow motion). In this podcast, Josh Brahm and Monica Snyder from Secular Pro-Life sort through listener mail from SPL’s mailbag and give quick responses to several questions and requests.

Part 2 of 2 addresses eight main topics, to include the biological case for the unborn, how to combat viral misinformation, the concept of abortion as healthcare, why women advocate for abortion, the medical necessity of third trimester abortions, what to do if the pro-choice person jumps topics, if brain activity should define personhood, and counseling resources for nonreligious, post-abortive women.

Josh Brahm will be speaking at the DC 40 Days for Life Kickoff Rally

Date: September 29, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Event: DC 40 Days for Life Kickoff Rally
Public: Public