Speaker conceived in rape says ‘no child is unwanted’ at annual Right to Life dinner
Ryan Bomberger makes a point during his talk at this year’s Right to Life of Indianapolis “Celebrate Life” event on Oct. 6, held virtually this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Screenshot by Natalie Hoefer)
By Natalie Hoefer
Ryan Bomberger came into the world with the appearance of a life unwanted. His conception was unwanted, the result of a rape. His mother didn’t want him and gave him up for adoption.
The key word, though, is “appearance.”
“There is no such thing as an unwanted child,” he said. “We’re all wanted by someone.”
Bomberger, co-founder of The Radiance Foundation along with his wife, shared his story during Right to Life of Indianapolis’ (RTLI) annual Celebrate Life fundraiser, held virtually this year on Oct. 6.
RTLI, Bomberger and The Radiance Foundation share a common cause: They are focused on promoting the dignity of every life from conception to natural death, and helping mothers choose life for their babies.
‘Strength to overcome traumatic situation’
After presenting two awards (see related article), RTLI president Marc Tuttle introduced Bomberger as someone with “an incredible personal story that spurred him on to be an effective voice for the pre-born, and for the quality and dignity of every human being.”
Bomberger, a Black man, learned of his own dignity through his adoptive family. He is one of 10 children of varying ethnicities and races adopted by a white couple, who also have three children through childbirth.
“One of the most powerful things I learned is that the color of our skin doesn’t define us,” he said. “We are one human race. Don’t be colorblind, but also recognize that God created all these colors for us to celebrate each other, not separate each other.”
Bomberger is open about his conception through rape. The circumstances make his gift of life even more profound and purposeful, he said.
“I’ve tried so many times to find and thank my birth mom,” he said. “What do you say to a woman who went through nine months carrying you, who had the strength to overcome her traumatic situation to choose life?
“Her decision will literally have reverberations through many generations,” he noted, showing a photograph of his wife and their four children, two of whom are adopted.
Planned Parenthood would have had his mother make a different choice, said Bomberger.
“Planned Parenthood exploits rape all the time,” he said. “They’ve been sued in state after state for not reporting rape. … The circumstances of the conception don’t change the circumstances of the child’s dignity and right to life.”
Planned Parenthood is no friend to women, he added. Using information gathered from 2018 Planned Parenthood reports, Bomberger shared that in that year, their breast exams, pap tests and prenatal care services were down anywhere from 68-76%, while abortions increased by 4%.
The decrease in services and the increase in abortions contributed to a 600% increase in profits for Planned Parenthood in 2018.
“Don’t believe them when they say they’re all about health care for women,” said Bomberger. “It’s fake feminism. All they want is your dough.”
‘The child is the only redemptive part’
The pro-life speaker said the social injustice of abortion “is no match for the beautiful possibilities that every human life carries, whether able, disabled, Black, brown, white.”
In fact, through his work with mothers who conceived a child through rape, Bomberger said there is one thing they all share in common: “The child is the only redemptive part of it.”
And any mother who gives her child up for adoption “is choosing to be stronger than her situation,” he added. “Love has to be the compelling source behind that decision.”
Adoption, then, truly is the loving answer to abortion, said Bomberger.
“Talking about abortion without talking about adoption is like not finishing a sentence,” he said. “Adoptive children bring joy to a family.”
Adoption gives meaning and purpose to the lives for whom life was chosen, he reiterated.
Going back to his birth mother, Bomberger said he wishes he could let her know of the purpose he has found in his life. He shared a short song he wrote about what he would tell her:
“You couldn’t see what I would be. … You gave my life a chance, touching the future before it began. You’re the reason I am here. I know deep down, my life has purpose.”
(To watch the event, go to celebratelifedinner.com/2020. For more information or to donate to Right to Life of Indianapolis, go to rtlindy.org. For more information on The Radiance Foundation, go to www.theradiancefoundation.org.) †
