Abortion: A Controversial Issue

Question 1

What are four points?

Answer 1

Where does life begin?
Quality of life
Prioritising the rights of the mother or of the baby?
Who has the choice?

Question 2

Where does life begin?

Answer 2

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (HFEA) says that before 24 weeks, the foetus isn’t ‘viable’
Roman Catholics believe that life starts at conception: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb”
 (Psalm 139) - it would constitue as murder for Catholics

Question 3

Quality of life

Answer 3

John Stott and disability
It may be argued that the foetus has the right to a reasonable quality of life, which means a life free from pain and the right to be a wanted child

Question 4

Prioritising the rights of the mother or of the baby?

Answer 4

Sanctity of Life for the child but the mother could also die

Is the foetus’ life absolutely sacrosanct or does the mother’s life take preference?

Question 5

Who has the choice?

Answer 5

77% of pro-life advocates are men and will never be faced with abortion
Should the government, which is male dominated, and the Church, which is male dominated and does not represent everyone, decide?