>If a young girl of about 15 falls pregnant in our class willingly or unwillingly,
The Roman Catholic Church’s views would say that she should not have an abortion. The belief is that she should allow the child to be adopted rather than terminated. The church does not believe in sex before marriage and would not see abortion as an acceptable option. The church would be against such an abortion and say, “ Abortion is a serious sin in any circumstances.” If an individual has the maturity to have sex then they have the maturity to face up to responsibilities.
Other Christians take the same view, having the maturity to have sex also means that individuals take responsibility for creating life; abortion would not be considered as an acceptable option. Pro-abortionist’s look closely at the woman’s perspective and might argue that because the girl is not married, her parents may advise her what to do. They also believe that all women have the right to make choices concerning their bodies, they might say that such a girl wouldn’t be able to cope or provide for a baby and would ruin her life chances and education. If a young girl has an abortion, then it is one less unwanted child, leading an unhappy life in the world. An anti- abortionist would say that abortion isn’t the only option and no one has the right to take another’s life. The rights of the unborn child are that the child is a life made by God as well as the girl and that it has rights of it’s own, just as valid as the mothers. The rights of the mother are that it is her body and she has the right over that body. The mother has to carry the child for nine months, feed it, feel it grow inside of her and keep it safe. The rights of the father are rather vague, although he has helped to make the baby; he has no rights over a woman’s body.
>When a women has been raped The Roman Catholic Church accepts this is a very horrific ordeal for a woman to go through, and would give her all the help and support she needed to complete the pregnancy, however, even in this situation an abortion would not be seen as acceptable as the circumstances of conception are no grounds for blame. It is not the child’s fault such a thing has happened. They also believe that an abortion would make life worse for the mother, living with guilt and sin could cause more distress. The belief is that the child is a very special gift from God and that it is a part of the plan, which he has for everyone. Other Christians believe that the mother is going through a very difficult situation and that may be, the child will be a positive influence and help her get through the trauma. Pro-abortionists see rape as a very upsetting issue for a mother and it is completely up to her to decide the fate of the child, as she is the victim, and did not agree to it. They believe that in this instance a termination would be the best thing for the woman, as the child would be a constant reminder of the whole experience.
Ant-abortionists accept this is a very awful situation for the mother to go through however, they might claim that the termination would cause the mother more pain and would be wrong. Two wrongs don’t make a right!! Having the child may in fact help the woman to get over her ordeal, because something positive has come out of such a bad experience. Adoption would also be an agreeable option. The rights of the unborn child recognise that the baby still needs to be loved, and is just as much a victim as the mother.
The rights of the mother are that it is her body and as she has been through the whole ordeal she has the right to choose what will happen. Having the baby could make things worse, she may re-enact the whole experience and eventually grow to hate the child. Others might say something positive out of something negative is worthwhile. The woman could end up with a baby to love, and this may help her to overcome the experience. In such a situation the father has no rights at all. By assaulting the woman and having sex without consent he has lost any rights he could have had.
>A woman’s who knows her unborn child will be disabled,
The Roman Catholic Church say that the child is still a life and although it might not be normal as other children, it is still unique like every child and God has a plan for it like he has for everyone. Other Christians would say the same although if the child is severely handicapped they say it would be fairer for the child to die now, rather than it have a poor quality of life. Pro abortionists would say the child would have no real quality of life and be a burden on someone else, and it would be better to get rid of it. Anti- abortionists believe that a woman should not have an abortion in this instance because a lot of disabled people live very “ normal” and fulfilled lives. The child is seen as a gift from God as is every other child, and this is Gods plan and we have no right to make such decisions.
The rights of the unborn child are more complex as both the quality of life and the ethical rights are taken in to account. Many handicapped people have very active and full lives; others become a burden and are unable to enjoy life. The severity of the disability is the main issue in such cases. Society is becoming more and more inclined to want perfection in all things and disabilities are seen as unacceptable.
The rights of the mother are that it is her body and if she believes that she could not cope with a disabled child, then it is her choice, but she could get help from lots of organisations that would help her cope with the child’s special needs.
> A woman’s life is at risk if she continues with the pregnancy,
The Roman Catholic Church states that an abortion could be allowed in this exceptional instance, because if the woman had the baby, there is little possibility of either her or the child’s survival. Other churches agree, they do not see the point of a woman having a child at the expense of the mother’s life. Pro abortionists think that the woman should have an abortion because she is endangering her own life for the sake of the young child. Most people believe or accept that this is a non-deliberate abortion because they say instead of killing two they are saving one. The rights of the mother are that it is her body and she has the right to do whatever she wishes to her body. Most probably the mother would like to save her self, the child may not even live and so the mother could die in vain. The father’s rights in this situation are slim because he has not got to die to save another’s life. Also he is not going to go thought the pregnancy. He is most likely to want to keep the woman rather than the child, as there is a strong possibility it might die anyway.
Over all the Roman Catholic Church states abortion is wrong, apart from when the woman’s own life is at serious risk. Other churches i.e., Church of England and Methodist churches have differing views. Most Christian’s views change in different situations; some think abortion is acceptable, and others are completely against it.
Evaluation
“God gives live and only God can take it away”
I believe this is true; we have no right to take another life away. God has created that being and we should not kill it. We are only stewards of life and God has left us in command of such lives. We are to look after and cherish these lives, not terminate them according to circumstances. We do not have the authority to do so. However, I also appreciate that extraordinary circumstances can make the decision very difficult, such as in the case of rape or life threatening situations. I know I would find it very difficult to have a baby that had been implanted into me without my consent. I would have serious emotional difficulties dealing with such a horrific circumstance. I might want to abort the child as an initial reaction, but I would find it very difficult, as it would not be the child’s fault, it too is a victim.
In all situations of abortion, I believe it is important to look at all sides; the mother, the foetus, the father etc. It is not just the mother’s decision whether she is ready to have the child or not. The baby whether it is called a foetus, embryo, or child has a rights to life once it has been conceived. The father has less authority because his body is not immediately involved. I believe he has some rights because he is after all, responsible for the fertilization. I personally would never have an abortion in any situation. I feel that a child is a gift from God and I may not ever get the chance for it happen again. Even in the case of a rape I would keep the child, for it would not be the child’s fault. I would never destroy another life nor shall I take another’s life, even if social pressures wanted me to. I believe I do not have the authority to do this. In the Ten Commandments we are told ‘you shall not commit murder,’ No one should commit murder and I believe even if you have an abortion, under any circumstances, you are committing murder.
Not only abortion, but also euthanasia, suicide, some fertility treatments, capital punishment, and killing in wars are all killing of a life that God has given. Why do we have the right to choose whether a person lives or dies? We don’t! God has planted each and everyone on this earth as stewards of life, gifts and wealth, entrusted by God to look after and keep safe. We should use God’s gifts the way he entrusted them to us to be used. Using fertility treatment is altering God’s plan.
Mother Teresa once said ‘ if you do make a mistake, don’t destroy the life…because also to that child God says: ‘ I have called you by your name; I have carried you in the palm of my hand; you are mine.’
Christians believe that God has a plan for everyone and this is why only God should take life away. If everyone is unique, every person is of equal value to another. We cannot and should not take anyone’s life away if this is true. We prove this by following the Bible, showing forgiveness and accepting God’s will.