“…to that child god says ,I have called you by your name ,I have carved you in the palm of my hand: you are mine.”-Mother Teresa (Roman Catholic nun)
Jer 1:5 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
In the Catholic Church abortion is seen as a type of murder because they believe human life begins at conception. They say life is a gift from god. Catholics believe that the sixth commandment “you must not commit murder”, says abortion is wrong because it deliberately brings life to an end. Scriptures contrast the blessing of life with a curse( which is the opposite of life—death.) If we don’t choose life, which is God’s blessing, then we are choosing death, which is His curse.
Deut 30:19 19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
The Roman Catholic Church has a strong belief that-
‘Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception.’
The RCC also state that abortion and infanticide are ‘abominable’ crimes. The orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church forbid any catholic to have an abortion. The Catholic teaching that abortion is wrong was most strong since Pope Pius VI in 1869 declared that ensoulment happens at conception.
It is said that from the time the ovum is fertilised a new life is begun which is not the mothers or fathers belonging. A foetus is not just a part of the mother’s body; it is the life of a new human being with its own growth. Because Christians believe a child is made in the image of god, then even if the foetus cannot yet feel or form relationships it should still have dignity by virtue for being made and known by god.
Gen 1:27-28 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
John 1:3 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
This quote states that nothing is made without god so therefore noone could be a mistake and abortion should not be an option as it goes against god’s wishes.
Ps 127:3-5 3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.
The above quote says that children are a blessing but further quotes go on to say that the more god blesses his people, the more children they receive.
Gen 17:16 16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her."
The bibles morals state a lot about protecting the weak and needy.
‘uphold the cause of the weak and the fatherless…rescue the weak and the needy and save them from the clutches of the wicked.’
The above quote suggests that a foetus should be protected from abortion because it cannot speak out for itself, and could also be significant in that abortion should not be allowed in cases of a single mother.
An early Christian document , the Didache, (54 AD) condemns abortion.
‘you shall not kill by abortion the fruit of the womb.’
The Roman Catholic Church doesn’t allow abortion under any circumstances. Obviously in cases such as rape the church would do everything to support the woman but to give birth after rape is seen as a great accomplishment and a way of conquering the rape. The baby is just a second innocent victim so it would be wrong to abort it. Roman Catholics believe a good can come out of this evil.
They do not allow abortions if the child is to be disabled as they believe that the child is still part of gods plan. The following quote state that god chose to make people disabled and they are not a mistake just as any other child is not a mistake.
Exod 4:11 11 The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?
These passages in the bible teach Christians to treat the disabled with kindness and respect so it should not be any different with a potential disabled person .The treatment you give to a blind person will be repaid to you and therefore the interpret of these passages suggests that termination of a disabled foetus is a sin.
Lev 19:14 14 "'Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.
Deut 27:18 18 "Cursed is the man who leads the blind astray on the road.
Luke 14:13-14 13 “…when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
This quote gives a direct opinion on the subject of abortion.
"You shall not kill either the foetus by abortion or the new born" (Letter of Barnabas, 1st century CE)
An abortion doesn’t just affect one child but it affects many potential generations. One of god’s first wishes in genesis was to produce more children.
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.
In the case where the mothers health is at risk, it is believed that the woman’s life isn’t in her hands or her doctors but it is still in the hands of god to decide on death, and a doctor never knows 100% if the mother will die from giving birth.
There are differences in opinion on abortion between Christians. Not all are as strict on abortion as the RCC. It hasn’t always been the belief that the soul enters the foetus at conception, in the Middle Ages Christians believed in quickening. This is where god breathes the soul into the baby. This was said to happen when the baby first moved in the womb. Some Christians say it doesn’t matter when the foetus becomes a person; the fact is that it is a potential person. Churches such as the Church of England and most Protestant are against abortion in principle and don’t condone it as a form of contraception but do allow it in some circumstances
e.g. If there is a serious danger to the mothers life, conception occurs as a result of rape or if there is a real risk of the baby being handicapped.
In these cases, abortion is seen as the lesser of two evils, and the Christian teachings of love, compassion and forgiveness which are a big part of Christian gospel are applied to the mother in the aspect of her own health and ability to cope. The mother already has responsibilities to follow so her rights can sometimes override the foetuses. The Church information office 1965 quoted this;
‘To regard the life of the mother as less valuable than that of the unborn child does not consider her ‘right to life’ in terms of her wider roles of wife or mother (actual or potential) of other children, as well as in terms of her own person.’
Both the Anglican Church and the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), believe that although abortion shouldn’t be encouraged, the life of the unborn child cannot be seen as more important than the mothers.
The General Synod of the Church of England explained the debate over compassion and abortion as follows;
‘We affirm that every human life, created in the divine image is unique…and that it holds for each of us, born or yet to be born .We therefore believe that abortion is an evil…and that abortion on demand would be a very great evil. But we also believe that to withhold compassion is evil, and in circumstances of extreme distress or need, a very great evil…Christians need to face frankly the fact that in an imperfect world the ‘right’ choice is sometimes the acceptance of the lesser of two evils.’
The free churches (Baptist, Methodist and Evangelical) say that abortion is a matter for the individual to decide. Methodists especially think that personal and social factors should be considered in each case. There are some Christians that do not agree with their religious leaders and think that everyone should have their own right to choose. It is a difference of opinion and depends whose right you put first, the unborn child or the mother and her circumstances. It is extremely difficult for Christians to decide where to apply their compassion but in most cases they would most likely appose abortion.
By Lianna Bullingham.
