Explain how Christian Teachings may be used in a discussion about Abortion.

Christians believe that begins at conception, this is what they have been taught. "You knit me together in my mother's womb . . . my frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place . . . your eyes saw my unformed body" (Psalm 139). This Psalm refers to 'you' meaning God. This quote is suggesting that God created humans the way he wanted them to be. Another quote to back this up is from the 'Declaration on procured abortion' by the Roman Catholic church in 1974, it reads, "From the time the ovum is fertilized a new life is begun. It is the life of a new human being with it's own growth. It would never become human if it were not human already". The point that the Roman Catholics are trying to make is that a human is an individual from conception.

Christians believe that the abortion of a baby is wrong. However this depends on the individual case. The Church of England said, "The life of a foetus is not absolutely sacrosanct if it endangers the life of the mother" (1984). What this means is that if the mother's life is in danger then abortion is acceptable. So, in this case, they are for abortion under certain circumstances. Another quote, which agrees with this, is from the General Synod of the Church of England "We believe that abortion is an evil, but we also believe that to withhold compassion is evil. Christians need to face frankly that in an imperfect world the 'right' choice is sometimes the acceptance of the lesser of two evils." In simpler terms it is better to have an abortion than an unfit mother and an unhappy child. However the Didache contradicts this point of acceptance by saying, "You shall not kill by abortion the fruit of the womb and you shall not murder the infant already born" this is an early Christian dating back to 200 A.D. It means that to kill a child of any form is wrong.

Everyone knows that it is wrong to kill including Christians who are strictly against it. The teachings on the subject of murder are very clear. A straightforward command from God told them "Thou shalt not kill" (The Ten Commandments). It is as simple as that. The Second Vatican Council back this up by teaching this; "Life must be protected from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes" (1963) this quote means the same as what the Didache said; that it is wrong to kill a child of any form.