Is abortion ever acceptable?

[Annie Proclivite]

Some pro-lifers say that abortion is okay in the case of rape or incest. But this logic doesn’t make sense because they believe life begins at conception. To kill an unborn baby who is the product of rape or incest is like killing a 2-year-old because his father was a rapist or pervert.

 

[drjean]

I don't go along with rape or incest being a viable reason at all---just ask those who are the product of rape or incest!

But I believe when the life of the mother is at stake...really, already at stake, then the mother's life is more important to those around her, her input and life to her spouse, other children etc. Frankly I would probably go ahead and risk it... and trust God to make the decision?

 

[Annie Proclivite]

I don't go along with rape or incest being a viable reason at all---just ask those who are the product of rape or incest!

But I believe when the life of the mother is at stake...really, already at stake, then the mother's life is more important to those around her, her input and life to her spouse, other children etc. Frankly I would probably go ahead and risk it... and trust God to make the decision?

We live in an age of advanced medical technology. When would the mother’s life be at risk with all our modern tools?

 

[GodsGrace101]

We live in an age of advanced medical technology. When would the mother’s life be at risk with all our modern tools?

It could happen.
Child bearing is very stressful on the heart.
What if a heart problem develops? Cancer?
I know a woman, young, who developed cancer while pregnant and decided to continue with the pregnancy. She died 6 months after the baby was born.

If a woman gets an abortion to save her life,,,isn't this detouring from God's plan since it is HE who gives life and takes it?

Just putting the question out there. I don't know what I would have done. I also agree with the poster who spoke about the husband and other children already living having to be considered.

 

[Northbrook]

Listen to this true story about Beethoven. When Mrs. Beethoven, the composer's mother, became pregnant with Beethoven, she was advised by her doctors to terminate the pregnancy. Back then, in the 1700's, this was referred to as a "therapeutic abortion." A therapeutic abortion is one performed to save the life of the mother. For Mrs. Beethoven, who had already had four children, had been told by those same doctors not to get pregnant again, lest she die in childbirth.

So what did Mrs. Beethoven do? Did she have the therapeutic abortion? Well, no. Instead, she told those doctors, "Well, Ah guess Ah'm gonna dah [Well, I guess I'm going to die]!" And she went right ahead with the pregnancy, and you see: the world got Beethoven. THE END

 

[“Paisios”]

We live in an age of advanced medical technology. When would the mother’s life be at risk with all our modern tools?

Ectopic pregnancy would be the most common early pregnancy life threatening risk, which is also a non-viable pregnancy.

There are still other conditions which can be life threatening for the mother, or the unborn child or both.

 

[frater_domus]

In many cases, "what" is not the correct question. "Why" is the relevant one. Every scenario is unique. Slapping a general label on any group of scenarios is not gonna do it. Take lying, for example. Sometimes it is necessary to avoid a greater evil. In those cases, we need to recognize that we live in an imperfect world but what we did was still a sin and ask for forgiveness, so that we do not fall into habbit of doing it, no matter how justified it was in that scenario.

Abortion would fall into that category as well. Sometimes it will be justified, sometimes it will be not. However, it would still be a sin, which is we must acknowledge and if it was the way to go, ask for forgiveness. In the end, it depends on the situation and is between you and God. What is right for one according to God, might not be for someone else. Every situation is unique, no matter how similar they may seem. And only God knows all.

 

[Tutorman]

Abortion is never acceptable.

 

[dreadnought]

Some pro-lifers say that abortion is okay in the case of rape or incest. But this logic doesn’t make sense because they believe life begins at conception. To kill an unborn baby who is the product of rape or incest is like killing a 2-year-old because his father was a rapist or pervert.

I don't think anyone knows when life begins, so generally speaking, I am against abortion. I don't know if anyone disputes abortion if the woman's life is in danger. If a woman has been raped, do you really think it's okay to force her to carry out her pregnancy?

 

[AnnaDeborah]

I believe removing a baby before term is only acceptable if it is to save the mother's life. Since the baby will die along with the mother anyway you are not operating to destroy life (since both are going to die if nothing happens) but to save life (the mother's). I know of two cases in my own extended family where babies have been removed late in pregnancy but when they were supposedly too early to be viable. In both cases, it was to save the life of the mother who was close to death. In both cases, the mother AND the baby survived. It's scary to think that these babies could legally have been destroyed if the parents had not wanted every effort made to save the child.

 

[drjean]

Saying abortion is never acceptable is quite a broad statement.

Sometimes they need to abort a child who has already died.

 

[Tutorman]

Sometimes they need to abort a child who has already died.

That would not be abortion then, now would it. The baby has already died. For me and my house abortion is never acceptable.

 

[AnnaDeborah]

I don't think anyone knows when life begins, so generally speaking, I am against abortion. I don't know if anyone disputes abortion if the woman's life is in danger. If a woman has been raped, do you really think it's okay to force her to carry out her pregnancy?

It's difficult to say this, because I don't want to sound in any way insensitive toward women who have experienced such horrific trauma. But the fact that a great wrong has been committed against one human being (the mother) does not justify a second great wrong being committed by depriving another human being of their life.

Also, I have read that the idea that aborting a child will help in these situations is not borne out by research. Abortion can often cause lasting problems in the future, and does not seem to provide women in these situations with the healing/closure they are seeking.

 

[AnnaDeborah]

That would not be abortion then, now would it. The baby has already died.

It's still termed as abortion medically (in the UK anyway). I had a friend whose baby died in the womb - she was unable to deliver it naturally, and ended up on the same ward as women who had chosen to abort healthy babies - she found it incredibly painful in an already heart-breaking situation.

 

[GodsGrace101]

Listen to this true story about Beethoven. When Mrs. Beethoven, the composer's mother, became pregnant with Beethoven, she was advised by her doctors to terminate the pregnancy. Back then, in the 1700's, this was referred to as a "therapeutic abortion." A therapeutic abortion is one performed to save the life of the mother. For Mrs. Beethoven, who had already had four children, had been told by those same doctors not to get pregnant again, lest she die in childbirth.

So what did Mrs. Beethoven do? Did she have the therapeutic abortion? Well, no. Instead, she told those doctors, "Well, Ah guess Ah'm gonna dah [Well, I guess I'm going to die]!" And she went right ahead with the pregnancy, and you see: the world got Beethoven. THE END

Great point!!
God only knows (literally) who is being aborted...

 

[Tutorman]

It's still termed as abortion medically (in the UK anyway). I had a friend whose baby died in the womb - she was unable to deliver it naturally, and ended up on the same ward as women who had chosen to abort healthy babies - she found it incredibly painful in an already heart-breaking situation.

I am sorry to hear that. Abortion is the termination of the baby, if the baby is dead and they must remove the baby it is impossible for it to be abortion even though they might use the term.

 

[Paul of Eugene OR]

Some pro-lifers say that abortion is okay in the case of rape or incest. But this logic doesn’t make sense because they believe life begins at conception. To kill an unborn baby who is the product of rape or incest is like killing a 2-year-old because his father was a rapist or pervert.

So many people want those babies to come to mothers who don't want those babies . . . what could possibly go wrong?

 

[GodsGrace101]

In many cases, "what" is not the correct question. "Why" is the relevant one. Every scenario is unique. Slapping a general label on any group of scenarios is not gonna do it. Take lying, for example. Sometimes it is necessary to avoid a greater evil. In those cases, we need to recognize that we live in an imperfect world but what we did was still a sin and ask for forgiveness, so that we do not fall into habbit of doing it, no matter how justified it was in that scenario.

Abortion would fall into that category as well. Sometimes it will be justified, sometimes it will be not. However, it would still be a sin, which is we must acknowledge and if it was the way to go, ask for forgiveness. In the end, it depends on the situation and is between you and God. What is right for one according to God, might not be for someone else. Every situation is unique, no matter how similar they may seem. And only God knows all.

Are you placing it in a medical category or some other category?

Isn't it still murder?
Doesn't the N.T. state that murderers will not enter into heaven? It's more serious than lying.

 

[GodsGrace101]

So many people want those babies to come to mothers who don't want those babies . . . what could possibly go wrong?

I think I get your point...
Actually, child abuse has gone UP since abortion on demand became law. I think the stats could be checked...
It's because of disrespect for life.

 

[TuxAme]

Sins are never acceptable.