Initiative 26: Does It Cover Immaculate Conception?

Jesus wasn’t conceived in any conventional sense. Would Initiative 26 ensure that those immaculately conceived are not aborted?

Mississippi’s Initiative 26 is a personhood amendment that would define a “person” or “persons” (as used in Article III of the state constitution) as every “human being” from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the functional equivalent thereof.

The question we should be asking the Initiative 26 supporters—most likely Christians, though perhaps this is a stereotype—is whether this legislation would cover immaculate conception, or is Mississippi keeping things within the boundaries of the possible?

It occurs to me, though, that for this Mississippi amendment—an amendment that will surely be introduced in other states—to have the most powerful metaphysical and religious force possible, that it simply must cover immaculate conception.

Imagine, for a second, if humanity were to once again, after some 2,011 years, be granted the rare and fantastical treat of a God fashioning himself into the biological form of a zygote inside the womb of a virgin Nazarene—or Mississippi woman in this case. Not only would it make for great television and a movie adaptation, it would totally reveal the flaw in Initiative 26.

My God! What if the woman were pro-choice? What if, after some thought, she felt she simply was not ready for pregnancy and wished to abort?

Well, with Initiative 26′s amendment, she’d be able to abort the baby without fear of prosecution.

Of course, not many people would believe her story—that she had immaculately conceived. And the Initiative 26 supporters, quite paradoxically, would likely be the first to label her a liar, a Babylonian whore, a Satanic force and call for the abortion of what could only be the Antichrist. They’d then break out the lynching ropes that are hidden in their basements, or perhaps hanging like religious relics on their walls, string her up and let her dangle for awhile until the crows peck out her eyeballs.

Or, perhaps, Jesus Christ’s apocalyptic vendetta ride will begin, just as it did 2,000 years ago, in the womb of a virgin—a nice Mississippi Christian girl.

Kids are so unpredictable, though—better amend Initiatve 26 to cover immaculate conception, just to be safe.

Wouldn’t want to put Jesus’ glorious return in jeopardy.