Catholics believe abortion, in all cases, is a sin. Other Christians such as the Church of England believe that abortion is wrong but in some cases it if morally preferable e.g. rape or incest. The General Synod (the government of the Anglican worldwide church) put this statement forward “ The Church of England combines strong opposition to abortion with the recognition that there can be strictly limited conditions under which it may be morally preferable to any alternative”. The Pope Paul VI said “ human life is sacred all men must recognise the fact”. The second Vatican council declared that “life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominate crimes”
Another point that Christians could use to support their view that all life is sacred and a gift from god. In genesis 1:26-7 (creation) God said “lets us make man in our image in our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over livestock, over al the earth, and all creatures that move along the ground”. This shows that god made human life sacred. God made life as a gift and it shouldn’t be destroyed. In Corinthians 6:18-20 ( body as a temple) Paul says “ do you know your body is a temple of the holy spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God. You are not your own, but were brought at a price Therefore honour God with your body” This shows life is a gift from God and showed not be wasted. We were brought at a price, which shows that we are valuable.
Not only does God give life but only he should take it away. God has a life planned out for us before we are conceived. In Jeremiah 1:5 “ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I see you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations”. God has chosen what will we do and the aborted child could be chosen to do something great or have certain plans for them.
In Luke 12:6-7 “ Are you not 5 sparrows sold for 2 pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows”. This shows that humans are precious in God’s eyes and that we are very valuable and shows that we are worth more than bird and we are at the height of God’s creation.
It would seem that although abortion is wrong in view of the Catholic Church it would seem that the protestant view that abortion is undesirable but expectable in some circumstances seems more feasible in the 21st century’s society. Also as Jesus lived 2000 years ago we have no direct teaching from the bible about the issue of abortion and therefore it could be interpreted that as it is stressed in the bible human life is precious the life of the mother should be should be a main concern especially if she will die from giving birth to the child or will suffer mentally.
