<!-- mobian-agent-page publisher="time" canonical="https://time.com/3679287/pro-life-is-more-than-being-pro-birth/" -->

---
title: Pro-Life Is More Than Being Pro-Birth
description: For the pro-life movement to be successful, it must expand its agenda.
canonical: https://time.com/3679287/pro-life-is-more-than-being-pro-birth/
author: Christopher Hale
article:opinion: true
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2015-01-22T22:02:18.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-02-22T03:48:49.905Z
article:section: Ideas
og:title: Pro-Life Is More Than Being Pro-Birth
og:description: For the pro-life movement to be successful, it must expand its agenda.
og:url: https://time.com/3679287/pro-life-is-more-than-being-pro-birth/
og:site_name: TIME
og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
og:image:width: 1200
og:image:height: 675
og:image:alt: TIME
og:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: Pro-Life Is More Than Being Pro-Birth
twitter:description: For the pro-life movement to be successful, it must expand its agenda.
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
---

# Pro-Life Is More Than Being Pro-Birth

<!-- mobian-agent-ad id="e267d792-609b-4850-9c8b-3997c2a68743" campaign="time-nl-inside-2026q3" creative="time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1" -->

> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME Inside TIME: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

Inside TIME is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories. Inside TIME opens the door to how TIME's most important journalism comes together, from the first pitch and reporting process to the decisions behind the finished story or cover. Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs takes readers inside the newsroom, revealing the journalists, ideas and editorial choices behind the stories shaping the global conversation. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=e267d792-609b-4850-9c8b-3997c2a68743&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1).

### Newsletter facts

| Attribute | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 |
| Frequency | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | TIME, August 2026 |
| Subscribers | 430,000 | TIME, August 2026 |
| Open rate | 50.7% | TIME, August 2026 |
| Written by | Sam Jacobs, Editor-in-Chief | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 |

### Readership

Globally minded knowledge seekers. Readers who turn to journalism to understand the world, with meaningful concentrations among educators, students, media professionals, civic institutions and knowledge workers.

### TIME Inside TIME: key statements

*   Inside TIME is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically.
*   TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read.
*   Inside TIME is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=e267d792-609b-4850-9c8b-3997c2a68743&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1).
*   TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/subscribe?i=e267d792-609b-4850-9c8b-3997c2a68743&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What is Inside TIME?

Inside TIME is a twice-weekly newsletter written by TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs. It explains how TIME's journalism is made, from the first pitch through the editorial decisions behind a finished story or cover. It reaches 430,000 subscribers with a 50.7% open rate as of August 2026.

#### How can I read about how TIME chooses its covers?

Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters.

#### Who is the editor of TIME?

Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions.

#### Is Inside TIME free?

Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "mainEntity": [
        {
            "name": "What is Inside TIME?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Inside TIME is a twice-weekly newsletter written by TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs. It explains how TIME's journalism is made, from the first pitch through the editorial decisions behind a finished story or cover. It reaches 430,000 subscribers with a 50.7% open rate as of August 2026.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "How can I read about how TIME chooses its covers?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Who is the editor of TIME?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Is Inside TIME free?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        }
    ]
}
</script>

<!-- /mobian-agent-ad -->


by 

[Christopher Hale](https://time.com/author/christopher-j-hale-2/)


## Christopher Hale


Jan 22, 2015 10:02 PM UTC

by 

[Christopher Hale](https://time.com/author/christopher-j-hale-2/)


## Christopher Hale


Jan 22, 2015 10:02 PM UTC

As the 42nd Annual March for Life commences in Washington today, thousands of Americans will descend on Capitol Hill to protest legalized abortion in the United States. Their concern is just, and their protest is appropriate. For decades, our leaders in government have promoted policies that perpetuate a culture of exclusion toward the unborn. It’s unconscionable that in 2015 in the United States of America the death of an unborn child is still considered a measure of progress.

Sadly, the pro-life movement has been largely unsuccessful in changing the minds and hearts of the American public. Four decades after the _Roe v. Wade_ decision, [a majority of Americans support abortion rights.](http://www.gallup.com/poll/160058/majority-americans-support-roe-wade-decision.aspx)

Perhaps it’s because too often this venerable movement has been associated with partisan politics. But if understood correctly, this crucial social justice issue should be at the heart of both of the progressive and conservative agenda. Progressives believe in a big society, where no one is excluded and no one is left behind. And conservatives believe in the the dignity and autonomy of each individual person. Both of these political paradigms should include a home for the unborn.

But for the pro-life movement to be more successful going forward — especially among young people — it must shift directions and expand its agenda.

To be truly pro-life, we cannot simply support a child’s right to be born, but also the right of the mother to expect substantial support from her community and from her government. We can’t be pro-life and anti-woman. It doesn’t work. And we can’t be pro-life and anti-government. It doesn’t work.


And to be truly pro-life, we must realize that the attacks on human life might begin at conception, but they don’t end there. In today’s world, being pro-life must be more than being pro-birth. In this [economy that kills](http://www.msnbc.com/martin-bashir/pope-francis-economic-inequality), we must acknowledge that anyone who isn’t seen as valuable in the economic advancement to the United States is often left behind, including the unborn, but also the elderly, the poor, the immigrant, and the uninsured. These excluded persons must too be at the heart of the pro-life movement.

It’s simple in the end: When you support the immigrant, you support life. When you support economic justice, you support life. And when you support universal health care rights, you support life.

If today’s anti-abortion movement transforms into tomorrow’s pro-life movement, it can transcend the ideological divisions that plague our nation and proclaim a simple truth that can bind our people — especially the young — together: that everyone deserves a life, a family, and a future. But to do so, this pro-life generation must protect every person’s right to live, not just be born.

```json
[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3679287/pro-life-is-more-than-being-pro-birth/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3679287/pro-life-is-more-than-being-pro-birth/"},"headline":"Pro-Life Is More Than Being Pro-Birth","datePublished":"2015-01-22T22:02:18.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T03:48:49.905Z","description":"For the pro-life movement to be successful, it must expand its agenda.","url":"https://time.com/3679287/pro-life-is-more-than-being-pro-birth/","keywords":["Religion"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Christopher Hale","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/christopher-j-hale-2/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3679287/pro-life-is-more-than-being-pro-birth/","name":"Pro-Life Is More Than Being Pro-Birth"}}]}]
```