Abortion has been in our culture for almost two centuries and is continuing to cause many major issues within our society. Abortion traces all the way back to the 1973 Supreme Court decision that ruled women had a constitutional right to have an abortion, this decision was due to the Roe vs. Wade Case, and continues to be in use today. Many argue that it is up to the mother in deciding to keep the child or not because it is her body. Kathy Newnam, the author of one of the articles, makes the argument that those who are against abortion are taking away a women’s right of allowing the freedom of her own body. Stating that if women gain control over their body, it may cause them to demand other aspects of their life (2013). She believes that taking away a women’s right to have an abortion is just another way to make women more inferior in society.
Another key concern brought up in this article is the “morality” of abortion. She believes some women only feel guilty after an abortion because that is how the public is telling them to feel. She also goes on to say that “abortion is not a problem; it is a solution to the problem of unwanted pregnancies” (Newnam, 2013) Making the argument that an abortion should be treated like a regular medical issue and should feel free and safe about the decision. Throughout her entire article, Kathy Newnam does not once state how this decision will affect the baby and how in most cases, the decision of abortion is a selfish, kindles act against God.Abortion goes against everything that the Church teaches. The fifth Commandment states: Thou shall not kill. Having an abortion goes directly against this commandment and is an offense against God. A life that God brought about is destroyed, and instead of contributing to the world’s creation, we destroy it. It is up to God to determine who comes into this world and who does not; He did not give humanity the power or right to take away the life of an innocent person.
The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council said, “God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and human life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: Abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes” (Carlson, 2010). This statement sums up the fact that from the moment of conception, it is up to the mother to take care of that child from the moment of conception. If the mother or family is incapable of caring for that child it is up to them to find a loving, safe home, not terminate the pregnancy. Terminating the pregnancy is never the answer no matter the issue. It is not accepting in the case of rape or if the child will be severely handicapped or disabled. It is up to the family to love their child no matter the circumstances or conditions.Many people think terminating the pregnancy in the case of rape or the chance of having severely handicapped or disabled child is an exception to having an abortion, but it is not. In the case of rape, it is not the child who committed a crime, and therefor it is not the child who should suffer the punishment. Two wrongs never make a right, many women who go through with an abortion, often spend the rest of their life regretting their decision and suffer from mental and emotional issues.
Psalms 51:3 mentions: “After his sin with Bathsheba, King David confessed these words to God: For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me’ (Melton,1996). King David is sorry for his sin, but knows it will never be forgotten and will always be stuck with him. It is similar with abortion, down the road the mother will most likely regret the termination of her child and that decision will always be with her no matter what comes about within her life. In the case of having a severely handicapped or disabled child, again, this is no reason for terminating the pregnancy. Each child is a gift from God, no matter the circumstances. It takes a special kind of person to handle all the hardships that come with caring for a handicapped or disabled child, but that does not mean that the child does not deserve to live their life and be loved. Spending time with disabled children allow people to see God through the children’s eyes, a caring, simple, happy life.
Everything happens for a reason, and if being blessed with a handicapped or disabled child is what God has planned, He knows which people are strong and caring enough to handle it. God plans everything for a reason, nothing is a mistake.Many people make the argument that when the abortion occurs, the fetus is not a human being. This is the main argument between prolife and prochoice. The Catholic Church believes from the moment of conception, it is considered to be a human being. An article written by Adam Lee makes the argument that taking on consciousness is the defining characteristic of humanity. “Ending the existence of something which does not possess the ability for conscious thought, is not the destruction of a human being” (Lee, 2013). He believes that “until the capability for conscious thought exists, a fetus cannot have the same moral status as a person”.
Therefore, no harm is actually being done when the abortion occurs because there is no person for the harm to be caused on. Later in the article he makes the comparison with end of life and euthanasia. “Once a human being has suffered brain death, they no longer possess moral personhood and we are under no obligation to ensure their physical continuance”(Lee, 2013). Adam Lee believes if people do not acquire consciousness then they are not a human being. In God’s eyes, an unborn baby and a newborn baby are the same thing, both living human beings. Every life that is conceived, God had planned. This is why no child is ever a mistake and why everyone deserves the chance to live their life. Ronald Reagan once said: “I notice that all of the people who support abortion are already born.” All who are considering abortion should take into consideration that their mother had the same choice that they do, but decided to have the child, and think, what if your mother had considered having an abortion.
One of the most consistent themes Pope John Paul II had addressed was abortion. He saw the termination of an innocent child a cultural consequence of modernity and against the church’s teaching. “In 1995 Pope John Paul II declared that the Church’s teaching on abortion ‘is unchanged and unchangeable”. Therefore, by the authority which Christ conferred upon Peter and his successors, I declare that direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, always constitutes a grave moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being” (Brom, 2004). The church’s teaching on abortion has always been that it is wrong and it will never change. The only thing that will have to change is the individual’s attitude toward the situation that they are in. Human beings actions should mirror those of Gods. God loves each and every person He has created, in response, human beings should treat everyone they meet with respect.
Knowing that this is not always an easy thing to do, God is very forgiving and if repented, sins will be forgiven.As more and more abortions are being committed, God is growing further and further away from His people. Destroying a human beings life is destroying a part of God. There is nothing God hates more then the shading of innocent blood. There is never a reason to kill an innocent human being; there is always another option when dealing with something as serious as abortion.The Roe v. Wade decision gave the right to kill the unborn at any stage of their development. To this day, that decision is still acceptable. “The Supreme Court failed to recognize in the Constitution the primary right given to every human person, the right to life, the right for an unborn child to celebrate a birthday” (Pfeifer,2006). This decision made in Roe v. Wade has gone against what the Catholic Church teaches and what is written in the Constitution. The government today is nothing compared to what it was founded upon. “The Catholic Church’s position against abortion is based on Divine and natural law and the constant teaching of the Church going back to the Apostles and continuing into our present time” (Pfeifer, 2006).
The teachings of the Catholic Church were founded upon the apostles and continue to be the same teachings today, therefore, the teachings of the Church are never going to change, the only thing that is capable of being change is the people’s attitudes and the government. Abortion not only affects those who are directly involved within the procedure, but it eventually begins to have an affect within society. Stated in the article “more than 44 million unborn children have been killed by abortion in our land since 1973” (Pfeifer, 2006). If this rate continues to increase, we will see major consequences on our society. The only reason this country exists is because of survival, if that right continues to be taken away, this society will face significant penalties.
Jesus Chris died for our humanity. He suffered death for the sake of our sins. Jesus Christ paved our way to Heaven, but it is put into the hands of humanity whether to realize that they have sinned and it is up to us to seek the forgiveness Jesus is offering. Romans 10:9 says,’That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Melton, 1996). This passage from the Romans is stating that if we seek out forgiveness by repenting by word and complete our necessary penance. Even a sin as serious as the termination of an innocent human being can be forgiven, if repented and demonstrated true sorrow for the offense against God. This does not mean that we should take advantage of Christ’s righteousness, it means we should learn from the mistakes made and continue to live the life God had planned. Abortion is a continuing issue around the world.
The more irresponsible people become, the more suffering they endure. In the case of having an abortion, it is not the innocent child who made the mistake and therefore it is not the innocent child who deserves to suffer the punishment. In this day and age there is no exception in terminating a pregnancy, not that there was ever an exceptional time, but today there are plenty ways of protection and other means if the child is not wanted by the birth parents. The Catholic Church is making their voice heard and raising awareness of how abortion goes against every church teaching. As Pope John Paul II taught: “As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live”(Pope John Paul II). Abortion tears apart the relationship of the family. Whether it affects the family right after the decision or down the road, one way or another, the family will suffer. Killing an innocent human being destroys God’s creation and plan for that person and the people in his or her life. God creates every person with a purpose, when that life is taken without a true reason; a part of God is also being destroyed and can never be restored. This is why the Catholic Church does not see a reason to kill an innocent child who was brought into this world by God to help share in His creation and succeed in His plan.
