Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh does not shy away from sharing his personal views on a number of topics, including the rights of college athletes, the legal needs of low-income Americans as a member of the Legal Services Corporation Leaders Council, and his anti-abortion support.
Harbaugh was part of an anti-abortion fundraiser in Plymouth on Sunday, according to DetroitCatholic.com. The event at the Inn at St. John's raised money for anti-abortion charities and programs in southeast Michigan.
Harbaugh spoke on the theme of "We Were Made to be Courageous," along with Fr. John Riccardo. Harbaugh's wife, Sarah, was also on stage and took part in a question-and-answer session.
"I believe in having the courage to let the unborn be born," Jim Harbaugh said at the function, according to the publication. "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.'"
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, the federal right to abortion, after nearly 50 years. The 1973 decision guaranteed federal protections of abortion rights. Harbaugh, during a wide-ranging podcast in 2020, was discussing the "sanctity of life, yet we live in a society that aborts babies. There can't be anything more horrendous."
While speaking at the fundraiser in Plymouth, Harbaugh said it is important to be clear when discussing the issue and why he is taking this stance.
"Passions can make the process messy, but when combined with respect, it ultimately produces the best outcomes," Harbaugh 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. 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. 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."
He said he supports assistance programs for mothers and families.
"In God's plan, each unborn human truly has a future filled with potential, talent, dreams and love," Harbaugh said. "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."
