Faced with the issue of abortion explain the different ways

        Some people may say that the Catholic Church contradicts itself in the case of an ectopic pregnancy.  This is when the baby plants itself and grows inside the fallopian tube.  If left both the mother and child would die.  The Catholic Church does not see this as a deliberate abortion.  The first intention is to save the mother’s life.  The death of the baby is an unintended consequence.  This is called the principle of double effect and is not seen as a procured abortion.

        The Roman Catholic Church also thinks of the handicapped people in our society at the moment.  They feel that aborting handicapped babies is telling handicapped people that they are worthless, unwanted and valueless.  This is not something the Roman Catholic Church wants as it values all human life.

        Other churches believe in the quality of life argument.  If the foetus is handicapped some churches may feel that abortion is justified especially if the child is only likely to live a few years. They feel that if the child is going to suffer through life it is more humane to abort the baby before it is born.  

        The Methodist Church says, “Circumstances which may often justify an abortion are direct threats to the life or health of the mother or the probable birth of a severely abnormal child.”  This means that they agree with abortion in the case of a handicapped child.

        Some Christians do not follow their churches teachings.  They may have different ideas about when life begins, whether at conception, sometime during pregnancy or at birth.  Christians may believe that in some circumstances abortion is justified.  The Humanist view is that they “regard abortion as better than bringing unwanted babies into the world.”  People who support the Women’s Rights Movement feel that women have the right to decide whether or not they want a child or not.  They believe the foetus is part of the mother’s body so it is up to her what to do.