Abortion commentary sparks debate

The following Sunday Forum is in response to “Trusting women to make abortion decisions is a Christian norm” (July 28) on the idea that Christianity should expand its tolerance of abortions past particular circumstances.

‘Right to life’

Missing in the author’s rationale is any consideration for the rights of the unborn child, and also missing is responsibility for the act that, in nature’s way, lead to the child’s conception. There is no religious justification to have an abortion as a matter of convenience.

The right to life of the unborn baby is conveniently ignored. “Abundant life” is only available to the parents in the author’s view. She makes no attempt to define when the unborn child becomes entitled to “abundant life” as found in Jesus’ teachings.

A professor of religious studies, with all the knowledge that implies, should not succumb to cherry picking Bible verses to prove a preference. Certainly the professor corps is more learned and disciplined that.

‘Opposed’

A fetus (hereinafter, the unborn person) has a heartbeat at around six weeks after conception, and a heartbeat is an indication of life. The unborn person has a developing nervous system and the sense of touch by the eighth week after conception, so the unborn person could probably feel pain.

The Roman Catholic Church does not prohibit abortion in all circumstances although their exception is much narrower . To put it simply, there is an exception for abortions done for the express purpose of saving the mother’s life (as in removing a cancerous womb), so long as the primary purpose is not to end the unborn person’s life.

Even in the circumstance of saving the life of the mother (not “life or health” as this may be too broad an exception), an unborn life is being terminated.

The unborn do not have many people speaking for them. My faith, which states life begins at conception, is why I, a Catholic man, am opposed to the practice of abortion. Although opposed to the practice of abortion, I do not judge the people who have abortions as Jesus instructed us not to judge.

I cannot speak to the circumstances which would cause a woman to decide to have an abortion, and people need to be treated with compassion, but regardless of the circumstances, let us not lose sight of the fact that a life is being terminated.

‘Choice’

I would like to comment on PRIM, the conditions which many Christians consider acceptable for abortion: Prenatal health, Rape, Incest, life of the Mother.

Unfortunately, these conditions are usually not clear-cut. For instance, a woman diagnosed with a cancerous condition in pregnancy with a 100 percent fatality rate if the pregnancy is continued would meet the PRIM conditions. What if the cancer had a 50 percent mortality rate? A 20 percent mortality rate in a woman with 3 young children?

These “messy” circumstances are much more likely to be the case. Those who accept some conditions as acceptable for abortion are pro-choice, they just want someone else other than the pregnant woman (the church, the government) to determine who can make that choice.

Those who oppose abortion without exception devalue the life of the woman. Abortion should be kept a safe, legal, private decision. Long-term, compassionate ways to reduce a woman’s need to make such decisions can be achieved by supporting family services, contraception and medical research.

Christian perspective

Peters asserts that abortion, within parameters, is consistent with Christian morality. I disagree with her argument.

A biblical/historical Christian perspective teaches the sanctity of human life and the value of people created in the image of God. This view of the person includes the person barely noted by Peters – the unborn child. For an unborn child, abundant life begins with a right to life, whether the child is “wanted” or not.

Peters claims that a woman should have a baby because she wants to be a mother. Thus, the litmus test for abortion rests on whether the child is wanted.

Conversely, a hallmark of biblical/historical Christianity is care for the “unwanted.” Hospitals, adoption agencies and pregnancy centers were formed and exist with the purpose of enfleshing Jesus’ words to care “for the least of these.”

Christian principles focus on a right to life and a high view of persons, born and unborn.