Should Have Been Aborted - Breakpoint

Summary4 min read

Breakpoint Podcast Summary

Episode: “Should Have Been Aborted”
Host: John Stonestreet, Colson Center
Guest: Ryan Bomberger
Date: May 27, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on Ryan Bomberger’s powerful personal story as a child conceived in rape and adopted into a large, diverse family. Bomberger discusses his new autobiographical book and documentary, Should Have Been Aborted. He tackles the challenges facing the pro-life movement, particularly within the Black community and on college campuses, and shares his journey of turning adversity into advocacy. The conversation is saturated with a deeply Christian worldview, challenging the prevalent cultural, religious, and academic narratives surrounding abortion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ryan’s Story and the Meaning of “Should Have Been Aborted”

Bomberger recounts being directly confronted at a Harvard event by a student who told him, “You should have been aborted,” highlighting the personal nature of abortion debates for him.
- Quote:
  
  "You should have been aborted. The Harvard student yelled in my face. He added some profane epithets, daring me to respond." [00:20]
He frames his life as part of the ‘1%’ conceived in rape, which he describes as “used 100% of the time to justify abortion.”
He expresses deep gratitude that his mother chose life despite her trauma:
- Quote:
  
  “Even though my birth mom was a victim of the horrific violence of rape, I'm forever grateful she didn't make me a victim of the horrific violence of abortion.” [00:49]

2. College Campus Hostility & The Crisis of ‘Worldview Fragility’

Bomberger describes his expectation to be challenged intellectually at Harvard, but instead faced “incessant interruptions” and an ill-prepared, arrogant faculty member.
He voices disappointment in both secular and Christian institutions, asserting that many Christians and churches have embraced a “social gospel” rather than the true gospel.
- Quote:
  
  “We have a crisis not of white fragility, but of worldview fragility.” [02:12]

3. Abortion as a Moral, Not Merely Political, Issue

He strongly rejects the idea that abortion is a matter for intra-Christian debate:
- Quote:
  
  "We live in a culture that pretends...an injustice that has caused the deaths of over 65 million lives created in God's image is merely a political issue that we can biblically have different opinions on. No, we can't.” [02:22]
Bomberger frames his survival and advocacy as spiritual and “deeply moral,” crediting his adoption and family for allowing him to fulfill his purpose.

4. Family, Adoption, and Triumph Through Tragedy

He grew up in a family with 13 children, 10 of whom were adopted, and now raises four kids (biological and adopted) with his wife.
He describes themselves as battling “giants” since founding the Radiance Foundation.

5. Silence, Truth, and the Legacy of Frederick Douglass

Bomberger stresses the importance of speaking up, regardless of race or gender, quoting Douglass’s North Star:
- Quote:
  
  “Right is of no sex. Truth is of no color. God is the father of us all and all we are brethren.” [03:48]
- He urges listeners:
  
  “So never let anyone, gender or color, shame you into silence. Loving people with the truth is hard. Leaving people without the truth is hell.” [03:57]

6. Adversity, Activism, and God's Providence

Bomberger recounts being opposed and attacked by media, ACLU, Antifa, Planned Parenthood, and even sued by the NAACP—for which he won a federal free speech case.
- Quote:
  
  “After two years in federal court, by the way, free speech won and the NAACP lost. I must be doing something right.” [04:12]
He outlines his personal struggles—depression, health crises—and proclaims faith in God as his foundation:
- Quote:
  
  “God has been my rock and my salvation, my refuge. I will not be shaken.” [05:09] “Why? Because I know I was meant to be.” [05:14]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Abortion as personal and spiritual, not just political:

"The fact that I'm alive isn't something political. It's something spiritual, supernatural and deeply moral because of a courageous birth mom." [02:33]
On loving and truth:

"Loving people with the truth is hard. Leaving people without the truth is hell." [03:58]
On adversity:

“Abortion didn't take my life. Severe depression in my 30s didn't take my life. Bilateral blood clots in my lungs in my 40s didn't take my life and my recent battle with cancer didn't take my life. I've battled worse and lesser things.” [04:46]

Important Timestamps

[00:20–01:05] – Ryan Bomberger describes the Harvard confrontation and introduces his book and documentary.
[01:06–02:33] – Discussion of hostility at Ivy League and Christian campuses, “worldview fragility,” and abortion’s impact.
[02:34–03:19] – Adoption, family background, and faith-based purpose.
[03:20–03:57] – Radiance Foundation, advocacy, and challenges in public discourse.
[03:58–04:12] – Media attacks, legal case with the NAACP, and resilience.
[04:13–05:14] – Reflections on adversity, God’s providence, and concluding affirmation of purpose.

Conclusion

Ryan Bomberger’s testimony is a call to courage in sharing truth, crossing cultural and racial lines, and holding fast to a biblical worldview in the face of intense opposition. His story, laid out in his new book and documentary, Should Have Been Aborted, is described as a living rebuttal to those who would justify abortion. The episode closes with strong encouragement to viewers: rebuke shame, embrace your calling, and fight for the marginalized—especially the unborn.

Further Information:
To learn more, visit shouldhavebenaborted.com

(All timestamps reflect the episode’s content, not introductory or promotional segments.)

Loading summary

Transcript4 lines

[00:01]
A
Welcome to breakpoint, a daily look at an ever changing culture through the lens of unchanging truth. For the Colson Center, I'm John Stonestreet. Ryan Bomberger is an amazing speaker with an amazing story, and it's the subject of a new book and a new documentary. To tell us more about it, here's Ryan Bomberger.
[00:20]
B
You should have been aborted. The Harvard student yelled in my face. He added some profane epithets, daring me to respond. It wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last. I've been told this so many times throughout my life I've lost count. It's why my newly released autobiographical book and documentary are entitled should have Been Aborted. You can visit shouldhavebenaborted.com to learn more. I am the 1% used 100% of the time to justify abortion Even though my birth mom was a victim of the horrific violence of rape, I'm forever grateful she didn't make me a victim of the horrific violence of abortion. That student's cold and callous remarks were out of desperation. The pro abortion side was unprepared and unhinged. Interestingly, I had convinced myself that I was unworthy of speaking at an Ivy League school. Prior to the event, I thought students would challenge me with questions complete with citations. There were no citations, just incessant interruptions. The professor who was slated to informally debate me had an arrogance about her as well that was deeply troubling. Despite agreeing to the debate, she literally knew nothing about the premise of it. Abortion's Devastating Impact in the Black community Harvard's hostility to the truth is a common one I experience not only in secular university events, but in Christian colleges as well. Too many Christian students have been propagandized into embracing a social gospel instead of the gospel. Too many Bible evading churches do the same. We have a crisis not of white fragility, but of worldview fragility. We live in a culture that pretends, since Roe, an injustice that has caused the Deaths of over 65 million lives created in God's image is merely a political issue that we can biblically have different opinions on. No, we can't. The fact that I'm alive isn't something political. It's something spiritual, supernatural and deeply moral because of a courageous birth mom. I'm still here because of two incredible parents who adopted and loved me despite how I came to be. I'm living out my purpose because of an amazing wife who adores me and vice versa. We are raising four children both biological and adopted to love Jesus and those he created because of God, I'm able to tell my story of how he enabled triumph to rise from tragedy. The next time Satan tries to convince you that you're not worthy of your calling, rebuke him. Don't let him derail you from the direction and destiny God has intended for you. I'm the tangible example of what so many people in the abstract can so easily dismiss. Lives like mine are the ones so quickly discarded by a society that claims to protect the marginalized. Yet here I am, fighting for the most marginalized amongst the marginalized because that was once me. After years of pro life, pro family advocacy and speaking at over 1,000 events from coast to coast, including college debates, pregnancy center galas, conferences, Capitol Hill briefings and emceeing historic Supreme Court rallies, I finally have my God sized story written. People ask me all the time how my parents raised 13 children, 10 of whom were adopted. Many want to know what it was like growing up in a diverse family of so many colors, and others want to know what it's like to fight for truth in a culture that hates it. Ever since my wife and I created the Radiance foundation, we've been battling giants. I feel compelled to say the things that some Christians balk at because they don't feel that they're the right color or the right gender speak certain truths. My childhood hero Frederick Douglass had something to say about that. The motto of his liberating anti slavery newspaper, the North Star proclaimed this right is of no sex. Truth is of no color. God is the father of us all and all we are brethren. So never let anyone, gender or color, shame you into silence. Loving people with the truth is hard. Leaving people without the truth is hell. I've been smeared by mainstream media, denounced by the aclu, attacked by Antifa, feared by Planned Parenthood, and even sued by the NAACP for my factivism. After two years in federal court, by the way, free speech won and the NAACP lost. I must be doing something right. That confused Harvard students challenge wasn't one that would break me. Abortion didn't take my life. Severe depression in my 30s didn't take my life. Bilateral blood clots in my lungs in my 40s didn't take my life and my recent battle with cancer didn't take my life. I've battled worse and lesser things. God has been my rock and my salvation, my refuge. I will not be shaken. Why? Because I know I was meant to be.
[05:27]
A
That was Ryan Bomberger. To learn more about his new book and how to see the documentary should have been aborted go to shouldhave been aborted.com that's should have been aborted.com for the Colson Center, I'm John Stonestreet with Breakpoint.
[05:47]
C
In honor of America's 250th birthday, our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom are inviting you to commit to five days of Prayer for America. Since its founding, America has been sustained by the prayers of its people. Through our highs and lows, Americans of faith have turned to God for wisdom, guidance and strength. And so, as we Prepare to celebrate 250 years of freedom, ADF is asking believers like you and me to join them in dedicated prayer for our country, thanking God for how he has worked in the past and asking him to prepare us for what's ahead. Commit to Pray for America by signing up today. For the next five days, you'll receive daily text messages and emails with specific prompts and insights about the issues facing our country and how you can pray about them. Visit joinadf.com breakpoint to sign up to pray today or text PRAY250 to 83848 to opt in.