the child. This is a very good example of pro-choice, because this does happen in every day life, and women do have to consider this issue.
P
ro-Life groups believe in the value of all human life, including the lives if unborn children. Their aim is to educate people about the wrongs of abortion, to lobby politicians and governments to implement ‘pro-life’ policies and laws. They also provide support and help for mothers and their children before and after birth.
There are some opinions that are considered. They say that all human life is of equal value – even a foetus or embryo has rights. And that a human being exists from the moment of conception. This means that a single cells formed at conception has the potential to develop through all stages of a human lifespan.
A
lthough the word abortion is not mentioned in the bible, there are many references to support the belief that the unborn child is a living person and deserves the rights and respect for all human beings.
Genesis 1:27 “So God created human beings, in his own image.”
Psalm 139:13-16 “You created every part of me; you put me in my mother’s womb. I praise you because you are to be feared; all you do is strange and wonderful. I know it with all my heart. When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother’s womb. When I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there – you saw me before I was born.”
Then ultimately, if it is accepted that the unborn child is human, there is the sixth commandment: “Thou shalt not kill.”
T
Here are certain basic facts about this issue that all Christian churches can agree with. For example, the statement by the Presbyterian Church that:
“The scriptures leave us in no doubt that from his earliest days in the womb, the unborn is fully human, a person made in the image of God”.
However, there do seem to be some differences of opinion when it comes to the question of abortion for the victims of rape, or in the case of severe abnormalities in the foetus.
The Catholic Church accepts that, in rare cases, certain measures aimed solely at curing medical conditions in an expectant mother may cause the death of an unborn child.
This is an unavoidable and tragic event, but the international termination of a pregnancy is always wrong;
“The direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human being is always gravely immoral.” And “Life must be respected with the utmost care from the moment of conception. Abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.”
The reason why abortion is wrong is because life is sacred and no human being may take another person’s life unjustly.
To summarise, the churches basically agree that abortion should only be consider in extreme special circumstances, which vary from severe health risk to child or/and mother.
I do not think that abortion should be made legal in Northern Ireland. If it were made legal in Northern Ireland, then the less wealthy may take advantage and have an abortion for all the wrong reasons. There are many alternatives to abortion, which should be considered in order to prevent the taking of life. I would agree however, that there are special circumstances were abortion should be made available.
I also think tat perhaps more education is needed on birth control because this should greatly help to reduce the number of abortions taking place.
I believe strongly that if God creates life, does anyone other than him have the right to terminate life?
