Souls and Abortion

[fromdownunder]

From this site:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001488.htm#top

Up to 50% of pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion (i.e., non medically induced) before the person is even aware that they are pregnant.

Another 10% occur between 9-12 weeks after conception.

For those who believe that the "soul" is created at conception, that is a lot of souls that never make it to life. And, are they different to "souls" that have died through medically induced abortion?

I am interested in any thoughts that you may have on this. If you have read any of my other posts, this is not any sort of a "trap" to try and prove something.

My interest is in your ideas as to whether these "souls" will go to Heaven or Hell, or (more interesting to me) will they get a second shot (ie, be actually, eventually born), or is it something else entirely?

I don't know, is a fine response. I suspect that it is not a subject that people give a lot of thought to, but ideas are always interesting to mull over.

Norm

 

[TheDag]

Let me be the first to say I don't know so it will be easier for others to say it! I don't actually know when the soul comes into existence although I am aware of the view that it is at conception. I'm not prepared to say that is right or wrong. I would like to see the chosen abortion rates lowered though but I am against making abortion illegal.

 

[FadingWhispers3]

Some people say that all these souls will go to heaven because they have not attained reason, nor had chance to do any wrong. A difficulty with this is that it then may appear very attractive to argue that abortions should occur... after all, what can be more selfless than to risk hell so that many children may automatically go to heaven by depriving them of life?

 

[reina23]

I don't know. I don't believe in heaven or hell.. I don't even really believe that they are souls. I mean, its life sure, but at that early they can't do much.... I personally think life starts at birth, or at the point that the baby could survive if born prematurely.

 

[jayem]

My interest is in your ideas as to whether these "souls" will go to Heaven or Hell, or (more interesting to me) will they get a second shot (ie, be actually, eventually born), or is it something else entirely?

Hi Norm,

The stock answer for these scenarios, is that God is totally righteous, so however He handles the situation will be perfectly fair and just.

Which is side-stepping the question, rather than actually addressing it, but that's usually the most you'll get.

 

[Monica02]

From this site:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001488.htm#top

Up to 50% of pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion (i.e., non medically induced) before the person is even aware that they are pregnant.

Another 10% occur between 9-12 weeks after conception.

For those who believe that the "soul" is created at conception, that is a lot of souls that never make it to life. And, are they different to "souls" that have died through medically induced abortion?

I am interested in any thoughts that you may have on this. If you have read any of my other posts, this is not any sort of a "trap" to try and prove something.

My interest is in your ideas as to whether these "souls" will go to Heaven or Hell, or (more interesting to me) will they get a second shot (ie, be actually, eventually born), or is it something else entirely?

I don't know, is a fine response. I suspect that it is not a subject that people give a lot of thought to, but ideas are always interesting to mull over.

Norm

I do not think the Church has a definite teaching on when we are ensouled but the answer would be the same for spontaneously aborted humans as well as deliberately killed ones. The Church definetely teaches that people are not reincarnated so no, these very small humans would not be reborn in a reincarnation sense.
The Church does not have a teaching on whether these humans are in Heaven or Hell. Their fate is left to the mercy of God. They have not been baptised but they also have never sinned so only God knows where they are. I tend to believe that they are in Heaven because they have never sinned but this is not CHurch Doctrine.

 

[fromdownunder]

Thanks for the comments. I realised that this was a difficult (impossible?) question, and I appreciate the responses of those who took the time to answer.

Norm