Philosophy and ?

In response to your question, Michael, I'm definitely not trying to suggest anything profound about the limits of natural law or anything like that.  Sometimes on this topic I feel like Anne Frank, who could write in her diary from her hiding place in the attic:  "I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are really good at heart."  I still believe, in spite of everything, that the truth about the humanity of embryos really must be written in all our hearts.  Because my faith and my reason lead me to the same conclusion, though, I don't have to sort out which of these is the most persuasive in making that seem so self-evident to me. 

I just wonder, on the very pragmatic level of trying to get others to see what I perceive as so self-evident, if philosophical or logical arguments are going to ever be enough.  Not that I would ever want to suggest giving up on that effort, and not that I won't myself continue trying.  (In that regard, I'm so grateful to Michael P. for bringing Jean Porter's article to our attention.)  But I sometimes wonder if maybe, in the end, what might have a better chance of actually changing people's minds on this issue are arguments based on common faith convictions, or forthright appeals to emotions, or simply lots and lots of prayer.

Lisa