The sanctity of life - Abortion

* If there is a serious risk to the mother's life.

* If conception takes place as a result of rape.

* If there is a grave risk that the baby will be born handicapped

The Methodist church regards abortion as basically wrong but there are certain circumstances where an abortion should be considered, these are:

. Where the life or health of the mother are threatened.

2. If the baby is to be severely abnormal.

3. The environment where the baby is to be raised is very poor - to take

in consideration the effect of the baby on the financial and social

conditions of the mother and any other existing children.

Most people believe that life must be respected. This means that abortion is wrong, and would only be the start of a slippery slope. The 1967 Abortion Act, which legalised abortion on social grounds as well as purely health grounds, was a big step forward in women's struggle for reproductive rights - for the right to end an unwanted pregnancy. Its introduction is a testament to the determination of women in the labour movement and other campaigners for women's rights to end the suffering caused by illegal, 'back street' abortions. 'Back street' abortions happened before 1967 (and for years afterwards). These illegal abortions were usually carried out by unskilled people under unhygienic conditions, and thousands of women each year died or were left with permanent health problems after suffering haemorrhaging or infection from a unhygienic abortion. Many were too scared to seek medical attention as they risked prison by doing so; and most woman who sought for an abortion were out of marriage - something that was strongly forbidden back then. The Abortion Act was introduced at a time of economic boom when women were starting to work outside the home in greater numbers, were growing in confidence and demanding recognition of their role and rights within society. The 1967 Abortion Act states that two doctors must agree that:

* The mother is at risk if she continues the pregnancy.

* The mother's mental and/or physical well-being is at risk.

* Scans/tests have shown that the baby is badly mentally or physically handicapped; or has a deformity meaning it is unlikely to live at birth.

* There is a risk of harm to existing children.

The main time limit was lowered from 28 weeks to 24 weeks in 1990. The biological father has no rights and cannot, in law, stop an abortion - something that has caused protests and controversy from father's who believe that a father has every right as the woman to stop an abortion or carry on the pregnancy. The Act today is interpreted quite widely, reflecting changes in social attitudes on abortion. In a recent poll 77% of people (81% women and 72% men) supported a woman's right to choose to end an unwanted pregnancy. But the law does not give a woman the right to choose whether to continue with her pregnancy. It requires two doctors to certify that a woman can have a termination.

Jewish thinking about abortion is less acceptable than contraception. It not only stops new life being created (as does contraception) but also destroys a life that already exists. However Judaism does not rank the foetus, which is only potentially alive, as important as the mother who is already alive and so in a situation where the mother may die or if she is likely to suffer very seriously psychologically problems, than an abortion may take place; the same as The Church Of England, Protestants, The Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Judaism would never agree with a termination for 'social' reasons e.g. if it was the wrong gender, or got in the way of a trip or just didn't want it.

So basically, all the religions agree on the fact that a human life is sacred and there should never be an abortion, but only in extreme cases (as shown above) should abortion be taken place, in accordance with the go ahead by two different doctors.

"When in the course of a brawl a man knocks against a pregnant woman so that she has a miscarriage but suffers no further hurt than the offender must pay whatever fine the woman's husband demands after assessment. If the woman is further hurt you shall give life for life." (Exodus 21:22-3)

Rachel.