R.S Coursework on Abortion

Aii). What Biblical and Church teachings might be used in a discussion about abortion?

Throughout the Bible there are many references and teachings which can be applied to abortion. They are largely found in the Old Testament. ‘Each human life is a miracle in the image of God.’  (Genesis 1:27)  This quote teaches that each individual life is sacred and special and made for one reason. God says that life is precious, ‘Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget you. I have written your name on your palms of my hands.’ (Isaiah 49:15-16) God knows each person from the moment of conception. A quotation to support this is ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you.’ (Jeremiah 1:5) The Bible also teaches us that you should not murder, and abortion so many believe is a form of murder. This is one of the Ten Commandments: ‘Thou shalt not kill’ (Exodus 20:13) 

        Different groups within Christianity hold different views on abortion. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that human life starts from the moment of conception so everyone is special and life should always be protected. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that abortion in all cases is a serious sin. Pope Paul VI said in the Encyclical Humanae Vitae, 1968 that ‘Human life is sacred; all men must recognise that fact.’ The second Vatican council declared that, ‘Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.’ (Vatican II Gaudium et Spes 51) The Church’s teaching was explained more fully in the Declaration on Procured Abortion (1974).

               ‘Any use whatsoever of any method that stops the natural power of sex to generate life is forbidden.’  This was said by Pope Pius XI.

           The Church of England has a slightly different view on abortion. A report published in 1984 said that ‘the foetus is to be specially protected and respected.’ nevertheless it went on to say that ‘None the less the life of the foetus is not absolutely sacred if it endangers the life of the mother.’ The Church of Scotland came to the conclusion that ‘Abortion has no moral justification and represents the unwanted destruction of human life which is made in the image of God.’ However it teaches that this was only in ‘the great majority of cases’. The Protestant Churches generally think that abortion is generally undesirable, but that it may be acceptable in some cases. They see that these cases are quite hard to define and in the end it all comes down to the women’s right to make their own decision about having an abortion. Some Evangelical Christians firmly follow what the Bible appears to say about abortion and so totally rule out any form or type of abortion. They think that it is God’s gift and choice to give and take life and not the choice of humans.

        Most Christian groups teach that abortion is wrong based on many Biblical passages and this is likely to be their contribution to a discussion on the subject.