abortion Flashcards
Sanctity of life
The belief that all life is precious and sacred
Definitions of Abortion
Deliberate ending of a pregnancy before normal childbirth, terminating the foetus in the process
Why is abortion so controversial?
People disagree about when a foetus becomes sufficiently human to have the right to life. Some people believe that an embryo should be treated as a person ‘from conception’ or the other extreme is that life only begins at the stage when ‘the foetus can survive outside the womb’ (known as viability)
Pro-life
They oppose abortion and seek to protect the (legal) rights of the unborn child in the womb. E.g. Precious life or SPUC
Pro-choice
They promote the legal right of a woman to choose whether or not she will have an abortion. E.g. National Abortion Campaign
Pro-choice
They promote the legal right of a woman to choose whether or not she will have an abortion. E.g. National Abortion Campaign
What does the topic of the sanctity of life covers
Abortion, Euthanasia, Capital Punishment
What do Christians believe about humans?
Christians believe that humans are the only species created in the image of God so human life must be respected and not disposed of in the way animal life might be treated. They also believe that because God gives life, only he has the right to take it away.
What does the word sanctity come from
Comes from the word ‘Sanctus’ in Latin. To sanctify life means to make it holy, precious and sacred.
When does the process of ‘sanctification’ start
The process of sanctification starts at conception and is complete upon death. For a Christian, human life is sanctified (made holy) they rejected abortion. They use Genesis 1 v 27 to support this. “Man is made in the image of God”
What do Christians say human life in the womb is?
Christians say human life in the womb is sacrosanct (holy, perfect and not to be tampered with)
What do people who are pro-choice recognise?
- That not all pro-choice supporters are always pro-abortion
- That the pregnant woman’s life trumps (overpowers) the unborn.
- That the pregnant woman has ‘options’ - safe, wise advice so she feels fully informed
What has happened to the pro-choice movement recently?
More recently, the pro-choice movement has gathered momentum.
This is because women had to become more vocal – more proactive.
They began to lobby (write to) the government
How has the role of women in Northern Ireland evolved over the decades?
The role of women in NI has evolved over the decades. No longer or women bound to the kitchen sink or the pushchair. Instead, women in Northern Ireland are growing in empowerment
What do pregnant women often say about the life of the unborn
It is often the case that pregnant women do not acknowledge the life of the unborn until viability (when the unborn can live independently beyond the womb).
