The main arguments for abortion, or pro-choice arguments are that a foetus is not truly alive- whereas there can be no argument that the mother is- therefore is not the mother’s life worth more and more important? This is one of the main debates that surround the controversy of abortion- when does life really begin? At conception, during pregnancy or at birth? Because of this, each side can always say that the foetus is or isn’t alive and that you are or aren’t killing a baby through abortion. Pro-choice campaigners also say that doctors have no better right than the mothers to deem whether and abortion is necessary. Additionally, they say that if abortions were made illegal, thousands of women would risk their lives in dirty back-street clinics. Another reason is because of this modern world we live in, which always concentrates on your rights and your freedom, so some people are pressurised into being passive about everything, to go with the crowd i.e. that abortion is fine, and should be available on demand.
The churches also have their own view on abortion. The Protestant churches differ somewhat, although they are all against abortion on demand and mostly think along the same lines as the law. The Catholic church has a very resolute view on abortion. It believes that all abortion is wrong and immoral. They take this view because they believe that our bodies are God’s temples- ‘Do you not know that His spirit dwells within you?’ Corinthians 3:16
It also says in the Psalms that we are known to God even before we are conceived; therefore it is wrong to kill an unborn child: ‘You created every part of me; You put me together in my mother’s womb…You saw me before I was even born’ Psalm 139. The Catholic church is completely pro life.
Other Pro-life campaigners say that life begins at conception too, that a foetus is never just part of its mother’s body. Also, they believe that abortion is not just about religion- but of a basic denial of rights, since the UN have declared that a baby needs protecting before and after birth.
Another reason would be that if you kill a child before it is given a chance to live, how do we know if we have just killed a potential world leader or even just another person like you or me? Anti-abortionists feel that a handicap is not nearly a good enough reason to kill someone, if there ever was one- what then separates us from animals who leave sick or handicapped young to die?
In my opinion, I think we should strive not to need abortion, to try and prevent unwanted babies from ever being conceived in the first place, rather than to argue and debate over and over. I think it is totally wrong that women should be able to ‘cancel’ a pregnancy just because they feel like it and also that the legal reasons for abortion are fundamentally immoral. Why should we kill an unborn person because they have a handicap? I know people who lead happy lives even though they are physically or mentally handicapped- they can come to terms with it- why can’t we? I have noticed that all the arguments against abortion are impersonal and are based on the idea that life doesn’t start until birth, but with medical advances a baby born as early as 24 weeks can survive in the world. So since birth is so unpredictable, that cannot be seen as the start of life. I do think that by allowing abortion, society is taking the easy way out and we should try for better care for pregnant mothers who would otherwise abort.
In conclusion, I believe that abortion is wrong, and that it is definitely a curse to society- through the trauma it causes, and the money and the time it wastes on debates and arguments. I think we should treat out bodies as God would want and our children, born and unborn, likewise.