RELIGIONS AND ABORTION
What do Religons Believe/Teach about Abortion
A World Fit for Children — World Religions and Abortion
Introduction
To oppose abortion is noble and just. Abortion is a direct attack on the life of a human being in a most violent way. A civilised people are judged by the way it protects the rights of its weakest members — the disabled, the sick, our senior citizens, and the unborn. To oppose abortion reflects one’s support for the most fundamental of human rights. At times we are inclined to brush awkward issues under the carpet. If the issue is one of fundamental human rights, then our unwillingness to deal with it may have disastrous consequences for others.
The aim of this leaflet is to examine briefly how world religions see this most important of human rights — the right to life of the unborn. All religions agree that human life is sacred and that destroying it is a serious offence. That there is a consensus on this vital issue among world religions does give one hope as evidenced at the recent United Nations Child Summit that declined to endorse abortion. They share an instinctive understanding that killing unborn babies is wrong. They agree that the unborn have an inalienable right to life.
UN Child Summit, May 2002, Declines to Endorse Abortions
After nearly 30 hours of bitter, non-stop negotiations, delegates to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children tentatively agreed on a declaration of goals. The Bush administration argued that the phrase connotes abortion and a delegate from Canada at a previous UN event conceded that point. They sought to remove it or amend it to exclude abortion explicitly. Eventually, human rights delegates achieved partial victory. The term ``reproductive health services'' was expunged from the document. A human rights activist said the compromise language needed no annotations on abortion. "The Bush administration, and the Holy See were attacked in the liberal newspapers all over the world for standing against abortion for children," said Austin Ruse, president of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute.
"The US, the Holy See and various Muslim states drew a line in the sand against abortion a year ago and no matter what they never wavered from their commitment to life and family. "
The Family Research Council and international human rights groups made it absolutely clear that it will oppose future efforts at UN conferences to promote abortion. "While pro-family forces should savour this victory, we must be vigilant that the strong pro-family, pro-life position is advanced by the Administration and its allies at future conferences," Family Research Council President Ken Connor said. "This was a vital first step, but many more steps need to be taken to secure 'A World Fit for Children.'” NewYorkTimes.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
“Abortion is the deliberate and direct killing, by whatever means it is carried out, of a human being in the initial phase of his or her existence, at any time from conception to birth.”
The Second Vatican Council Document Evangelium Vitae.
“The Irish Bishops’ Conference believes that it is essential to ensure that legal order adequately protects the right to life of the unborn. However it has to be recognised that reliance on the law alone will not be sufficient to protect such a right. We need to ensure as a society that our no to the legislation of abortion is matched by a compassionate and caring yes to those who find themselves faced with difficult circumstances. We need to ensure that those who feel abortion represents the only way out of a crisis pregnancy or a difficult situation are offered a truly life giving choice. The genuineness of our conviction as a society about the right to life of the unborn must be matched by our willingness to give this support.”
“We believe, as a matter of justice and in the interests of equality, that everybody has the right not to have his or her life treated as a means to an end and that such a right should be enshrined in the Constitution and that the direct and intentional taking of a human should be prohibited.”
“We believe that what is required is a constitutional amendment that would protect the right to life of the unborn child while recognising that an expectant mother who is ill must receive such medical treatment as is necessary even when that treatment has a side effect that puts her unborn child at risk.”
“The fundamental principle is that every human life is of value in itself. Respect for the worth and dignity of every human being requires that we respect his or her right to life since this is the most fundamental of all rights and, without it, other rights are rendered meaningless.”
Excerpts from the Submission of Cardinal Desmond and representatives of the Irish Bishops at the Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution, 2000.
HINDUISM
Hinduism has always deemed abortion contrary to dharma. The Krishna Yajur Veda states, "Therefore, a slayer of an embryo is like the slayer of a priest." Modern Hindu religious leaders continue to hold that abortion is immoral. Swami Bhasyananda, head of the Ramakrishna Mission Chicago centre, stated:
“Abortion has come now because people are not controlled. The child has come unwanted, so then destroy the child. This is absolutely illogical and most unethical.”
Russian Orthodox
The 20th 'Family at the Turn of the Millennium' International Congress was opened in the State All-Union Library of Foreign Literature' on 6 September 1999. His Eminence Metropolitan Kirill read out the greeting from His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia:
We must in the first place defend the rights and interests of the youngest and most vulnerable members of our society, whom the Lord Jesus Christ blessed and said: 'For to such belongs the kingdom of God' (Lk.18: 16).
“Sacrificed to this new Moloch are children who become an annoying obstacle on the way to limitless freedom and high income. Human life is no longer perceived as a sacred and inviolable gift from God. I must tell you with bitterness and shame that from 10 pregnancies in Russia today 7 end with abortions and only 3 with childbirth.”
Metropolitan Theodosius, Primate
Chancellor: Protopresbyter Robert S. Kondratick
P. O. Box 675, Syosset, New York 11791
SANCTITY OF LIFE SUNDAY
January 21, 1996.
“For only with "a broken and contrite heart" (Psalm 51:17) comes the discovery that human life, originating at conception, is a divine gift called to participate in divine life. Only "a broken and contrite heart" can recognize that jeopardizing and destroying human life -- human life originating at conception is an open rebellion against the living God.”
+ THEODOSIUS
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada
Judaism – “Life is Precious”
Abortion is Something Which is Clearly of a Moral Nature
“It is wrong to abort unless the definite case of …. (Where pregnancy) is hazardous to the life of the mother.” “It is something which nevertheless, remains a moral offence.”
Rape wouldn’t be a reason for abortion because “there is an entitlement for a child to have his life” (or in the case of incest or adultery etc.). In any illegitimate birth “that child still is a living being and has to be given every accord to be able to move forward”.
Chief Rabbi Gavin Broder at Public Hearings of the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution, 2000.
Prominent Canadian Rabbi, Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka writes in the Ottawa Citizen that he is inalterably "opposed to abortion, except when an abortion needs to be performed to save the mother's life. In any other situation, abortion is nothing less than the murder of a child in utero. This is not a women's-rights issue: This is a foetal-rights issue." (Ottawa Citizen Tuesday May 21).
Latter Day Saints (Mormons)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints considers the elective termination of pregnancy "one of the most…sinful practices of this day" (General Handbook of Instructions, 11-4), although not necessarily murder. The Lord has said, "Thou shalt not…kill, nor do anything like unto it" (D&C 59:6; emphasis added in Packer, p. 85).
Members of the Church must not "submit to, be a party to, or perform an abortion" (General Handbook, 11-4).
"Church members who encourage, perform, or submit to an abortion are subject to Church discipline as appropriate" to help them repent (General Handbook, 11-4). As far as has been revealed, the sin of abortion is one for which a person may repent and gain forgiveness (General Handbook, 11-4; Packer, p. 86).
BUDDHISM
The Chinese always say: "At the time of death, the ghosts that feel injustice will come and ask for one’s life."
Birth refers to the time when the baby is born. However, according to the teachings of the Buddha, our past karma (moral quality of a person’s actions) is the main cause of the new life that comes about when the father’s sperm cell combines with an egg from the mother. This is referred to as conception: the initiation of the birth process.
“Thus, those who carry out abortions are in fact committing the evil deed of killing.”
Thus, a practicing Buddhist should pay attention to the moment of their last breath. We should behave well, think positively, and be mindful at the moment of our last breath.
Recorded by Ming Dao. Translated by Shi Neng Rong, edited by Ke Rong, proofread by Shi Neng Rong. (8-2-96).
Jehovah’s Witnesses - Showing Respect for Life
How should we view life?
“Jehovah is the Source of life. All living things owe their life to God. (Psalm 36:9) Life is sacred to God. Even the life of an unborn child inside its mother is precious to Jehovah. To kill such a developing baby on purpose is wrong in God's eyes.”
— Exodus 21:22, 23; Psalm 127:3.
ISLAM — Muslims Believe that Life Begins at Conception
The Islamic View of Abortion:
The Islamic opinion on abortion is that “once the woman’s womb has accepted the sperm it is unlawful to interfere with it. It becomes worse to do so when it has been formed …”. (Yahya Al-Hussein, Imam). In Islam all life is sacred. “Do not kill or take human life which God has declared to be sacred” (Koran, Ch. 6: verse 151). The basis view that Islam has to abortion is that it is forbidden and is a crime except if medical experts prove it that the mother’s life is threatened. That is the pregnancy would be terminated only in one circumstance — the continuation of the pregnancy will result in the death of the mother. This threat to the mother’s life does not include when danger is merely assumed (a suicidal woman). They also note that with advances in modern medicine and the scientific possibilities available nowadays, there are fewer, if any, dangers to an expectant mother’s life.
Muslims believe that life begins at conception. This is illustrated in the Koran that Muslims believe is the word of God. From “the Koran we can see that the foetus is viewed as a human being in a formative stage. Thus, as the embryo-foetus is a human being it has, according to Islam, the right to protection by law.”
In Islam, no child is viewed as unwanted. All children are viewed as gifts from God.
There is a consensus in Muslim opinion that the embryo should be safeguarded and should not be affected in anything that is against it unless there is harm that threatens the mother’s life.
Church of Ireland – Re-affirm the Lambeth Declaration on Abortion
At Lambeth, England, every ten years all the Bishops of the Anglican Communion meet and the Lambeth Declaration on Abortion remains the essential and official stated position of the Church of Ireland. It reads as follows:
“In the strongest terms, Christians reject the practice of induced abortion, or infanticide, which involves the killing of a life already conceived (as well as the violation of the personality of the mother) save at the dictate of strict and undeniable medical necessity”.
According to the Church of Ireland representative at the Oireachtas Hearings on Abortion:
“We are agreed that the right to life itself is the most basic of human rights and that this applies to the life of the foetus in the womb.”
“We are also agreed that it is one of the tasks of the Christian Church to protect the weakest and most vulnerable and that the unborn fall within these categories.”
Dr Milller, Church of Ireland representative at the All-Party Oireachtas Committee hearings on the Constitution, 2000.
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
Human Life is Sacred and Uniquely Valuable
“Significant numbers of Presbyterians are convinced by the arguments for the absolute rights of the unborn. In faith they believe that our God will provide the grace which is sufficient for those who willingly accept their burden which is a labour of love”.
Rev Dr Trevor Morrow, Moderator, at the All-Party Oireachtas Committee hearings on the Constitution, 2000.
Methodist Church in Ireland
“We are not in favour of easy or widespread abortion. In fact, we are not generally in favour of it at all.”
Mr Robert Cochran, Secretary and Convenor at the All-Party Oireachtas Committee hearings on the Constitution, 2000.
Shared Values of World Religions
There appears to be a consensus among religions on the vital importance of the mother’s life. Some outside commentators confuse essential medical treatment to save the mother’s life that results in the death of her baby with abortion. These kinds of treatment are not abortion, because there is a clear difference between essential medical treatment during pregnancy, and the direct targeting of the life of the unborn baby.
The Medical Council of Ireland explains the difference in its official 1998 Guidelines (§ 26.5): “The deliberate and intentional destruction of an unborn child is professional misconduct. Should a child suffer or lose his or her life as a side-effect of essential medical treatment of the mother, then this is not unethical.”
The distinction between abortion and essential medical treatment is based on a clear difference between the intention and action of those involved. The abortionist’s intention and action are directed to kill the baby. The intention and action of the doctor during rare essential medical treatment are not directed towards killing the baby, but to protect the life of the mother. If the baby dies during treatment, it is in spite of the best efforts of the doctor.
“We consider that there is a fundamental difference between abortion carried out, for example, for social reasons, and the unavoidable death of the baby resulting from essential treatment to protect the life of the mother”. (Statement of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist, February, 2000).
Compassion
All the religions emphasise the vital need for compassion and it is well articulated by this quote: “We need to ensure as a society that our no to abortion is matched by a compassionate yes to those who find themselves faced with difficult circumstances. We need to ensure that those who feel abortion represents the only way out of crisis pregnancy or a difficult situation are offered a truly life giving choice. The genuineness of our conviction about the right to life of the unborn child must be matched by our willingness to give support to those for whom the prospect of the birth of a child creates difficulties which they feel unable to face”. (Cardinal Desmond Connell of Dublin).