Vocal pro-life advocate and New England Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson wants to bring honesty and unity to the abortion debate in his new documentary, Divided Hearts of America.
“My goal is to unveil the truth about abortion, the laws, the history and where our country is headed,” he said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Though this is the football player’s first foray into filmmaking, his convictions on pro-life issues drove him to engage in the topic.
“I never thought I’d be involved in a movie,” he said. “But so many different laws have passed in New York, Alabama, Georgia, it seems this issue—which has always been a part of our national consciousness—has ramped up recently. Things are at a fever pitch.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – FEBRUARY 05: Finalist Benjamin Watson of the New Orleans Saints speaks during the 2015 Walter Payton Man of the Year Finalist press conference prior to Super Bowl 50 at the Moscone Center West on February 5, 2016 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
The film will interview 30 Americans on both sides of the debate. It will feature several different leaders, including former presidential candidate and neurosurgeon Ben Carson and Alveda King, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s niece.
“I’ll engage those who disagree and hear their reasoning. The number one thing I’m looking for is empathy on both sides,” he said. “Dissenting views should be respected and in fact encouraged. There are many people in Hollywood who would consider themselves pro-life but they feel as though their viewpoint is unacceptable in the industry. No one should feel like their job is in danger because of their convictions on this issue.”
Watson started filming the documentary in May, shortly after he clapped back against actress and pro-abortion advocate Alyssa Milano, according to Faithwire.
The actress was interviewed by Chris Cuomo in response to the recent uptick of anti-abortion legislation.
“I feel like any woman of privilege that lives in one of these states—if this goes through—they’re gonna be able to travel to a state to get safe reproductive health care,” Milano said. “But for the women of color, for the women that are marginalized, for the women that are low-income communities, for the women that are most at-risk, this bill will be catastrophic.”
Watson responded via Twitter, saying her comment “reveals ignorance, racism or some combination of both.” He continued: “Our children and families are capable of greatness and lies like this harm our future. Don’t patronize us.”
The documentary is currently in post-production. Christian Headline News
The following is from Pro Life Across America
- 18 days from conception, heart begins to beat, with the baby’s own blood.
- 28 days from conception a baby has eyes, ears, and even a tongue!
- 28 days from conception: Muscles are developing along the future spine. Arms and legs are budding.
- 30 days: Child has grown 10,000 times to 6-7mm (1/4”) long. Brain has human proportions. Blood flows in veins.
- 42 days: Skeleton is formed. Brain coordinates movement of muscles and organs. Reflex responses have begun.
- 42 days: Brain waves can be detected, the jaw forms, including teeth and taste buds. The unborn baby begins to swallow amniotic fluid. Fingers and toes are developing.
- 45 days from conception: The unborn baby is making body movements, a full 12 weeks before the mother may notice such stirrings. By seven weeks the chest and abdomen are fully formed. Swimming with a natural swimmer’s stroke in the amniotic fluid, the baby now looks like a miniature human infant.
- 44-45 days: Buds of milk teeth appear, and the unborn baby’s facial muscles develop. Eyelids begin to form, protecting the developing eyes. Elbows take shape. Internal organs are present, but immature. 99% of muscles are present, each with its own nerve supply.
- 52 Days: Spontaneous movement begins. The unborn baby then develops a whole collection of moves over the next 4 weeks including hiccuping, frowning, squinting, furrowing the brow, pursing the lips, moving individual arms and legs, head turning, touching his/her face, breathing (without air), stretching, opening the mouth, yawning and sucking. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. Psalms 139:14-16
