Jesus cared for the unwanted and for the sick who he knew had little chance of recovering, he did this because what ever the circumstances were they were still humans and had equal rights on earth. This is an example on how Christians should care about each other not destroy each other ‘Love Thy Neighbour as Thyself ’ as Jesus teaches in the gospels.
SANCTITY OF LIFE VS RIGHTS TO CHOOSE
The main arguments for abortion are the fact that it is a woman’s right to do what ever she wants with her body. Nobody else has the right to tell her what to do with it. Gen 1.28 ‘given dominion over all things’ - this illustrates that humans have the free will and the power to chose at the given moment what they feel is correct. It is extremely expensive to look after mentally and physically handicapped children hence it is better to abort such children before they are born so they do not live a painful life. Abortion comes into play in many different situations such if a young girl gets raped it is not her fault and she has to continue her education, also she is too young to be a mother and to take full responsibility of a human life. Similarly a woman with a career would not want to ruin her job and career. If a woman’s life is in danger it is better to abort the foetus before it is born in order to save a human life which is fully grown ‘the lesser of two evils. The mother may even have other children who will suffer if she is to die. If a woman gets pregnant and the parents do not wish to have children then the child in this circumstance might grow up to feel unwanted and rejected.
Many others feel that abortion is ‘murder’ or ‘the taking away of life. It is the murder of a human being who has done nothing wrong and a human being who can not defend him/her self.
‘I am sure that deep down in your heart you know that the unborn is a human being and loved by God like everyone. If a mother can kill her own child what is there to stop you and me from killer each other’
Mother Teresa. Every person is sacred and made in the image of God, so it is wrong to destroy something in the image of God. Most people have an abortion as they feel the child would be and inconvenience to them, this is a selfish act. There are no unwanted babies, some natural parents may not want their child and should give it to loving infertile parents who are desperately trying for children. From conception to natural end God made women get pregnant and it was therefore God’s will that all of this was supposed to happen.
‘ I confirm that the direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human is always gravely immoral.’(Pope John Paul II)
All Christians believe that life is holy and should therefore be protected as they are made in the image of God (Genesis 1.26). However abortion still remains an emotive issue as Christians disagree about when life begins. Catholics as well as the Church of Scotland believe that abortion can never be justified and is a serious sin, this is because they believe that life begins from the moment of conception. This belief is also shared by Muslims and Jews.
Anglicans as well as some other Protestants believe abortion is generally undesirable, but it may be acceptable in some circumstances such as if the mother’s life is at risk or if the child may turn out to be seriously handicapped. They believe the lesser of two evils would be to abort the child and save the mother. The Churches decision depends on when life begins (Sanctity of Life) and if love overrides right to life
I believe that abortion is an immoral act and that abortion should only be permitted is the mothers life is at risk or if the child will be handicapped but if the reason for abortion is that the parents are not financially stable to take full responsibility of the child ten it should be put up for adoption.
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