6 - Abortion

• Abortion


  Deliberate removal of the foetus from the womb. A pregnancy is ended so that it does not result in the birth of a child
• Absolute Morality


  Rule apply to all situations and can never be broken
• Relative Morality


  What is right or wrong in each case depends on the situation
• Situation Ethics

  Rightness or wrongness of an act is on a case-by-case basis
• Pro-Life


  Being against abortion because the foetus has the right to live
• Pro-Choice

  The Mother has the right to choose whether or not she has an abortion
• Roman Catholic Abortion

  • Roman Catholics are against abortion under any circumstances, because they believe that life is sacred and God given
  • All humans are made 'in the image of God' and are precious and should be protected even in the womb
  • Life begins at conception and so abortion is taking away a human life
  • Abortion breaks the 6th commandment 'Do not kill' and so is murder
  • Most Christians (not just Roman Catholics) are against abortion carried out for social reasons, such as limiting the size of your family
• Some Christians believe that an abortion may be the most loving thing to do in certain circumstances, such as:

  • If the child is to be born seriously disabled
  • If the child is unwanted or unloved
  • If the child is the result of a rape
• Humanism Abortion

  • Humanists take a situation ethics approach and follow relative morality
  • Quality of life is more important than sanctity of life. If the foetus will not have a happy life, or will have a life of suffering, abortion should be allowed
  • Humanists are pro-choice. Only the mother has the right to decide
  • The embryo is not a human so abortion is not ending a human life
• Church in Wales -

  • In some instances, abortion may be allowed if the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother
  • Early abortion is not murder as the foetus is just a collection of cells
  • God has given humans free will to decide. She should follow her conscience