Roman Catholics have many religious teachings based on the Christian faith, which support their view for example, The Didache, which says: ‘You shall not kill by abortion the fruit of the womb’. This is one amongst many Christian teachings which supports what the Roman Catholics believe in, Luke is another example of this. It’s difficult to understand exactly what it means when Elizabeth is 6 months pregnant, but it is clear that the Bible is saying that these unborn children are more than clumps of cells-they are in a full sense human beings, made in Gods image.
These teachings have been put in to practice in every day life: to go through with the pregnancy, not to use contraception, homes have even been made for women who want to put up a child for adoption.
The Methodist Church opposes abortion, and says that it is evil, but they do state that “in an imperfect world, there will be circumstances where the termination of pregnancy may be the lesser of evil!” They give examples of what they mean – where the pregnancy is the result of rape, an abortion may be necessary for the recovery of the victim. It goes on to state that if it is going to affect the physical or mental health of the mother or a combination of these. The Methodist church would strongly prefer that through advances in medical science and social welfare, all abortions should become unnecessary. An example of this idea is the morning after pill, which would inhibit a pregnancy.
The Methodist church feel that the earlier that you have the abortion in pregnancy will “lessen evil”. They do put a good point in about if abortion was to become illegal again. This would be “one law for the rich and another for the poor”. With increasing risks of ill health by “back street abortions”. The Methodist church all women should be told clearly that there are alternatives to the abortion – fostering or adoption!
The Methodist church teach all the above – abortion can only be carried out in certain circumstances, there are other ways other than abortion. They will put all these teachings into practise by putting them into everyday life – go through with an unwanted pregnancy (adopt or fostering if necessary) only have an abortion where it is considered the lesser evil. A biblical teaching can back most of these up i.e thou shall not commit murder.
The Church of England does not have anything against contraception. But they do oppose abortion, their most recent statement says that they Bellevue the abortion rate has become unacceptably high. They say that for something that should not be undertaken lightly it has a high rate. They teach their followers:
Although abortion is wrong there are times when it has to be undertaken.
The medical profession should be supported to undertake an abortion as soon as possible. They say that if an abortion is taking place after 24 weeks it should only be done if it there is a serious foetal handicap where the foetus may only survive for a short period after delivery.
They also say that anyone going through with an abortion should be given spiritual, moral and practical support.
The Church of England would put these into practice by applying all the above. There are biblical reading which would support what the Church of England states .i.e Psalms 139. V.13 – 16
The key verse is that “God has plans for every life.” Also Exodus, 20. V 13, which explains that life, should not be destroyed. There are many biblical sayings, which support what the Church of England is saying.
The Salvation Arms both oppose and support abortion, they take a very practical approach, and it basically depends on the situation of the person. They put people first and give them love and support. If the councillor advise not have an abortion and an abortion has taken place they will still offer love, compassion and pastoral care to that person.
The Salvation Army teaches forgiveness, they also teach that from the moment of conception that it is a human. They teach that the baby is a gift from God and should be cherished, nurtured and preserved.
They also find it acceptable that the termination of a pregnancy may take place on certain limited grounds – If the pregnancy poses a serious threat to either the mother or the baby an abortion may be necessary. In the case of proven rape or legally defined incest. Abortion may also take place where “reliable diagnostic procedures determine that a foetal abnormality is present and incompatible with life other than a brief survival after birth.“
The Salvation Army try to council anyone who has an unwanted pregnancy, they give them as much support and help as possible. They try to deter a woman from having an abortion by offering as much help to them as they can and giving them alternatives of what they can do. There are a few biblical reasons, which support what the Salvation Army believes, e.g Jeremiah 20. v 16 – 18, or Job 10. V 18 – 19, they are both two examples of a boy and two brothers who have all their lives turned out bad, yet still have their good points for society.
A man called John Stott, a respected Christian leader of the last century made a good statement which the supported a lot of which that Salvation Army teach, and put into practise daily, “The foetus is neither a growth in the mothers body, nor a potential human being, but already a human being who, through not yet mature, has the potentiality of growing into the fullness of the individual humanity he already possesses.”
Unfortunately, it is not easy to find an answer to the question posed, as I have just proved Christianity is so wide each denomination has its own interpretation of the bible text. All the different denominations have their own way of dealing with the issue of abortion. From all the research done it could be said that No, abortion it is not morally acceptable to Christians. A lot of the denominations have a good Christian reference to back up what they believe. Most of the Christian denominations oppose abortion. Except for the Roman Catholics, the other denominations all say that abortion has to take place occasionally such as in the case of rape or foetal congenital abnormality.
Personally I feel that abortion is only acceptable under certain circumstances - rape, if the pregnancy would cause the death of the child or mother. I also feel that if it is an unwanted pregnancy it is up to the woman through counselling to choose if she is willing to give up the baby at birth for adoption or fostering. If it is so seriously unwanted then she should be able to have a termination of the pregnancy. My opinion is based on various things – information I have read, things I have found out from through this course work. I have a strong leaning towards the teaching of the Salvation Army’s view as well as the Church of England.
