Talking about abortion to a secular audience

Recently I had the opportunity to do a speech to a secular audience where I could choose the topic, provided it had a theme based on communicating a vision and mission to an audience, and that it attempted to convince the audience to work toward achieving that vision and mission.

I saw it as an opportunity to try to develop an effective pro-life presentation that could be delivered briefly (I had to fit it within a six to eight minute time slot), that would not alienate a secular audience, and that would open their eyes to the wrongness of abortion.  I wanted them to come away agreeing that abortion was wrong, sufficiently persuaded that if the subject came up in their own conversations in the future they would approach the topic from a pro-life perspective rather than being neutral or in favour of it, and thereby hopefully influencing other people.

In writing and delivering the speech I was very conscious that my audience might include people who had personally been involved in an abortion, perhaps without allowing themselves to realise the full gravity of what they had taken part in.  I didn’t want to unnecessarily shock them with graphic images or outright condemnation, but to get them to think about the subject clearly and calmly.  Essentially, my aim was to help form people’s consciences.

I’ll post the content of the speech over the next couple of days.  I’d be interested in feedback on whether you think it was an effective way to promote a pro-life message in a secular context, and whether you would have done anything different or have any suggestions for improvement should the opportunity arise again.