Controlling Language in the “Contraceptive” Debate

Click below to listen to this post.

[audio:https://catholicexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Kengor_Catholic_Contraception-Language_022312.mp3|titles=Kengor_Catholic_Contraception Language_022312]

Pay close attention to the media’s reporting on President Obama’s mandate on contraception, sterilization, and abortion-inducing pharmaceuticals. When you hear the subject reported, it’s rarely reported with that specificity, with that accuracy. Typically, the media simply refers to the Obama mandate on “contraception.” That’s it. Many reporters are leaving out the words “abortion-inducing pharmaceuticals.” It’s a rather significant—indeed, fatal—omission.

It’s a sin of omission that aids and abets President Obama’s purposes, as he and his staff frame their decree against the Catholic Church as a matter not about abortion-inducing pharmaceuticals, or even religious liberty, or conscience exemptions, or the Constitution—but strictly about a “woman’s right to choose” “contraception.”

In this debate, language will be critical in leading and misleading a dumbed-down public. The media will be Obama’s willful ally.

A case in point was shared with me by a colleague who works for one of the major news networks. He’s an orthodox Roman Catholic. In the copy of a commentary that he sent to his editor, he referred to President Obama’s mandate providing “FDA-approved contraceptives, sterilization, and ‘morning-after’ birth-control pills.” This was accurate, of course, but that accuracy is damaging to the progressive cause. And so, the editor changed his copy and went with this description instead “FDA-approved contraceptives and sterilization services.”

Note: no mention of abortion-inducing pharmaceuticals. That was curiously deleted.

He who controls the language, controls the public debate, and thus controls the public.

My friend’s example is happening everywhere.

Who are the victims of this? Ironically, it’s the women who listen to, watch, read, and trust these mainstream news sources. They believe they’re getting truthful, honest reporting. To the contrary, they are being misled, to the point that they may be merrily using these so-called “contraceptives” and giving themselves abortions—many abortions—without evening knowing it.

Well, ignorance is bliss, I suppose.

Or is it? I bet these women feel this in their soul, in their conscience.

Yes, there’s one conscience exemption that not even President Obama and his fellow progressives can stop.

Avatar photo

By

Dr. Paul Kengor is professor of political science at Grove City College and executive director of The Center for Vision & Values. His books include “The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism” and “Dupes: How America’s Adversaries Have Manipulated Progressives for a Century.”

Subscribe to CE
(It's free)

Go to Catholic Exchange homepage

MENU