Abortion Flashcards
Define abortion?
The act of deliberately ending a pregnancy before normal childbirth, killing the foetus in the process.
Why would a woman want an abortion?
- Mental health - They may already have a condition like depression and anxiety and worry about the effect of raising a baby.
- physical health - they may already have a pre-existing condition and worry about the effects of giving birth or raising a child.
- may believe having another child might damage family life
- career - Some women want the choice of abortion because of their career.
- financial - having a child would damage their financial prospects when they want to spend money on other things or simply do not have the money to care for a child.
Arguments for pro life?
•All life is equal even that of a foetus or embryo. - When the egg has been fertilised it has its own right to life. It is believed that the foetus has its separate identity to the mother and she cannot choose to get rid of it like a part of her body.
•Abortion is murder - abortion is killing the foetus which is an innocent human being and therefore the process of abortion is likened to murder.
•Mental health - Abortion can damage the long term physical and emotional health of the mother.
Responsibility - a woman must take responsibility and if she gets pregnant she can’t undo that choice
•if the mother is in difficult circumstances they can receive support
-Examples of Pro-Life groups that try to influence others with pro-life viewpoints are the Society for the Protection of Unborn children (SPUC), life and Precious Life.
Arguments for Pro choice?
- It is argued an embryo is a cluster of cells and not an actual human being.
- The woman should be regarded as a person and not just a container for the foetus. If women are to have equality with men they should have the right to an abortion so they can walk away from raising a child like men can do.
- if we don’t legalise abortion then dangerous and illegal back street abortions may take place.
- if the woman has been the victim of rape, if she is a single parent, if she is too young to raise a child or the mother or foetus has a mental or physical disability.
-Examples of Pro-Choice Groups that argue intentional abortion is acceptable are the National Abortion Campaign (NAC) and the Abortion Law Reform Association (ALRA) .
What conditions allow abortion?
- If there is a risk to the life of the pregnant woman
- If there is a physical or mental health issue that affects the pregnant woman or any existing children of her family.
- If the foetus when it is born will suffer from physical or mental abnormalities thought to be a severe handicap.
- Abortions may be carried out until the 24th week of pregnancy.
What does the bible say about abortion?
- ‘God created humans to be in his image
- ‘Yet you took from the womb and made me trust you (King David)
- ’you knitted me together in my mother’s womb’ (King David)
- ’Before you were born I knew you’
- ’And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb!’
- ’I was set apart before I was born’ (The Apostle Paul)
What the church’s viewpoints on abortion?
•Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church maintains that Abortion is the killing of an innocent human being and it is therefore “an abominable crime”
•Presbyterian Church
This Church maintains that the foetus in the womb is a “person made in the image of God”
•Anglican Church
Several committee reports emphasise that Abortion is the ‘Killing of a life’. A working group report in 1998 stated that women who have had an abortion need compassion and support as they rebuild their lives.
•Methodist Church
The Methodist Church condemn abortion on demand but allow the choice of abortion in extreme circumstances such as if there is a serious risk to the physical and mental health of the mother, if she conceived because of rape or if there is serious foetal abnormality.
