Abortion Flashcards
Abortion
Deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, with the intentional destruction of the foetus from the womb to cause its death
Why is abortion legal in the UK?
To prevent backstreet abortions
To prevent harm to the mother (physical and mental)
To prevent a child with a severe abnormality being born
To prevent harm to existing born children cared for by the pregnant woman
Abortion in NI
Decriminalised in 2020
Must be up to 12 weeks to get an abortion
In 2020-2021 63 abortions were reported in hospitals in NI
What is another term for being supportive of abortion?
Pro-choice
What is another term for being against abortion?
Pro-life
Arguments for abortion
BODILY AUTONOMY - the woman should get to choose whether or not she should have the baby
BACKSTREET ABORTION - stopping/not having legal abortion would mean suffering health of women who turn to backstreet abortion. Legal abortion is the lesser of two evils
RAPE - in the case of rape it would be lacking in compassion to deny a woman the right to an abortion: love is what Christianity is about
QUALITY OF LIFE - in cases of poverty the quality of life for the unborn child and existing children could be compromised
Arguments against abortion
ADOPTION - alternatives to abortion eg adoption/foster
SANCTITY OF LFIE - we are made in God’s image and we shouldn’t treat the life God gave us as disposable
BODILY AUTONOMY - we don’t have complete autonomy eg in euthanasia laws, so abortion should be the same (unfair)
RIGHT TO LIFE - every human including an embryo or foetus have the right to life
Sanctity of life
The belief that all life is precious, scared and God-given and therefore must be preserved and protected
How does the Bible highlight the importance of the sanctity of life
Humans are the only species created in God’s image so our lives must be respected and not disposed of in the way animal life might be
God uniquely made us “for you knit me together in my mother’s womb” - Psalm 139
God gave us life so only He has the right to take it away
6th Commandment is “do not murder” - this could be related to abortion
How many weeks is it legal to have an abortion?
12
What are the stages of the embryo?
CONTRACEPTION - sperm and egg meet
IMPLANTATION - fertilised egg attaches to the lining of the womb
QUICKENING - woman starts to feel foetal movement
BRAIN ACTIVITY - foetus emits its own brain waves
VIABILITY - foetus can survive by itself
BIRTH
Alternatives to abortion/unwanted pregnancies
Sexual abstinence, contraception, adoption/fostering, support to keep the baby, baby raised by a family member, counselling
What is the Bible’s view on abortion?
DISAGREE - Human life is special as it is created by God. An unborn child is equal to a living person
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” - Jeremiah 1:5
“I am fearfully and wonderfully made…all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them come to be” - Psalm 139 13-16
What is the Catholic Church’s view on abortion?
DISAGREE - intentional termination of a pregnancy is always wring as human life is sacred. No human must ever take the life of another
What is the Presbyterian Church’s view on abortion?
ONE EXCEPTION - human life begins at contraception and an embryo should be treated with full human dignity except if it threatens the mother’s life, then abortion is justified
