University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh recently discussed his appearance and keynote speech that he made at the annual Plymouth Right to Life dinner.
University of Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh walks on the field with starting quarterback Jake Rudock and backup quarterback Wilton Speight before their game against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Sept. 26, 2015 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. Photo Credit: Brad Muckenthaler, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
As reported by Detroit Catholic, Harbaugh said during his speech, “I believe in having the courage to let the unborn be born.”
He also said, “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. Quoting from Jeremiah, ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’”
Jim Harbaugh via The Wolverine: Michigan Football and Basketball YouTube
During his speech, Harbaugh would also discuss the overturning of Roe v. Wade as well as an upcoming ballot initiative that is attempting to enshrine the right to murder unborn children in Michigan’s Constitution.
“Passions can make the process messy, but when combined with respect, it ultimately produces the best outcomes,” the University of Michigan coach said.
“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 continued.
Jim Harbaugh via Michigan Athletics YouTube
The coach added, “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.”
“Ultimately, I don’t believe that is the case with abortion,” Harbaugh professed. “Yes, there are conflicts between the legitimate rights of the mother and the rights of the unborn child. One resolution might involve incredible hardship for the mother, family and society. Another results in the death of an unborn person.”
Photo of Jim Harbaugh from his introductory press conference at the University of Michigan. Photo Credit: Eric Upchurch, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Harbaugh would also state, “In God’s plan, each unborn human truly has a future filled with potential, talent, dreams and love.”
He added, “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.”
Jim Harbaugh via Brad Galli YouTube
Harbaugh addressed his statements in an interview with ESPN’s Gene Wojiciechowski who asked him, “Why did you think that was important to do? And did you receive criticism, support after that appearance?”
Harbaugh responded, “Faith, family, football. Those are my priorities. I just think that this issue of life, of saving life, the abortion issue, is one that’s so big it needs to be talked about.”
“It needs serious conversation,” he said. “What do you think? What do I think? What do others think? Really, people really think about it. Not so much, ‘Hey, I don’t want to get involved with that.’ ‘Cause it’s too big of an issue for that. It’s a life or death type of issue.”
“I believe in and I respect people’s views, but let’s hear them. Let’s discuss them because there’s passion, there’s passion on both sides of this issue,” Harbaugh concluded.
Jim Harbaugh and Wilton Speight via ESPN YouTube
When asked what he would do if a player or female staff member came to him and told him they disagreed with him and wanted to discuss the issue, Harbaugh replied, “Let’s really discuss it. Let’s discuss it, have told them that.”
“And it goes even further,” he relayed. “Same thing I told my kids, the boys, the girls, the same thing I tell our players, our staff members, I encourage them if they have a pregnancy that wasn’t planned, to go through with it, let that unborn child be born, and if at that time you don’t feel like you can care for it, you don’t have the means, or the wherewithal then Sarah and I will take that baby.”
“Any player on our team, any female staff member, any staff member, or anybody in our family, our extended family that doesn’t feel like after they have a baby that they can take care for it, we have a big house, we’ll raise that baby,” he declared.
Jim Harbaugh via ESPN YouTube
What do you make of Harbaugh’s priorities and his dedication to life and the unborn?
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