An Analysis of Pro-Choice/Pro-Life in Abortion

The age-old question, When does life begin? is never more profound then when it is discussed and debated in the context of the abortion issue. In the past forty years the abortion issue has not only been societys problem but a political issue in the United States. Websters Dictionary defines abortion as, The termination of a pregnancy followed by the death of the embryo or fetus. Pro-Life and Pro-Choice advocates continue to fight for their positions on the house floor and in the courtrooms of America.

The Pro-Choice position does not view abortion as killing an individual human, but as a legal right to terminate a pregnancy. Their position is firmly backed by the Roe Vs. Wade Supreme Court decision. They continue to fight for an America that has legal abortion, because they say a woman has the right to do what she wants with her body. They also believe that unwanted children should not be brought into this world.

The new presidential administration offers a distinct shift from the Pro-Choice policy of the Clinton era. America waits to see the outcome of the renewed Pro-Life era of President Bush and his supporters.

The arguments for the Pro-Life movements are numerous and passionate. They clearly state their position through a Judeo-Christian worldview, a civilized ethics system, and a Hippocratic view of medicine. abortion A careful juxtaposition of these two views of life will inform on individuals beliefs about

The Pro-Choice movement is backed by the Supreme Courts decision on the Roe Vs. Wade decision. To understand the importance of this one must first be acquainted with the case. Roe Vs. Wade was a legal case, decided in 1973 by the U.S. Supreme Court, which held restrictive state regulation of abortion to be unconstitutional.

In a 72 vote the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's decision that a Texas statement, that criminalizing abortion in most cases violated a woman's constitutional right of privacy, which the court found implicit in the liberty guarantee of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The case began in 1970 when Jane Roe, a fictional name used to protect the identity of Norma McCorvey, instituted federal action against Henry Wade, the district attorney of Dallas county, Texas. The court disagreed with Roe's argument of the absolute right to terminate pregnancy in any way and at any time, but attempted to balance a woman's right of privacy with a state's interest in regulating abortion.

The court stated that only compelling state interest could justify the regulation of limiting fundamental rights such as privacy. The court stated that legislators must draw statutes narrowly to express the legitimate state interests that are at stake. The court then attempted to balance the state's distinct interests in the health of pregnant women and in the potential life of fetuses. It stated that a state's interest in the pregnant woman's health would allow the state to regulate abortion at approximately the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. The court held that the Texas statute was unconstitutional because of its breadth. (Britanica.com)

With this legalization of abortion the political and moral battle between the Pro-Choice movement and the Pro Life movement became entrenched in our society. Each side makes advancement and has defeats, as each seek to affect the hearts and minds of renewing generations. Though abortion is legal there are still ideological and societal advancements sought by the pro-choice movement. Their desire is for a woman to have complete right over her body no matter how late in pregnancy or advanced in development the fetus is. (abortionfacts.com)

The Pro-Choice movement believes that the woman has the right to control what happens to her body. A woman can have an abortion when she wants and for any reason. This argument is based on the right for a person to have free will. The Pro-Choice movement does not think that the government should have the ability to control what a woman does with her body. They say that to prevent women from having an abortion when she is ten weeks pregnant or nine months pregnant violates her constitutional rights. (Abortionfacts.com)

The Pro-choice movement says that if a woman is late in pregnancy and the doctors find out that this woman has a high risk of dieing if she gives birth then the woman should be able to abort the baby legally. They also believe that if the baby is unwanted then women should be able to abort the baby legally.

The Pro-Choice movement says that if a child is unwanted then it will have a hard life because it is unwanted. It will grow up knowing that the child will know that it is unwanted and will have serious affects on the child and those around him. They say that the child is more likely to be abused and neglected than a wanted child, so if the child is unwanted then it should not be born. Because they believe this they fight for the right to have abortions. They do not want children to come into this world that are not unwanted for the childs sake and for the parents sake. (abortionfacts.com)

One way the Pro-Life movement argues its point is through a Judeo-Christian viewpoint. They use Church Tradition and Scripture to show that God does not consent with abortion; therefore it should not be legal.

The Pro-Life movement uses example such as the Epistle of Barnabas, which says Thou shall not destroy thy conceptions before they are brought forth; nor kill them after they are born. They show that Jewish tradition regards all children as gifts from God. Children arent view as a nuisance, an inconvenience or any type of problem. They say that Jewish tradition holds a miscarriage of a baby as a curse or a judgment of God. (Larson)

The Pro-Life movement believes that human life is sacred. They believe that humans are made in the image of God and therefore there is a high dignity in human life. Since they believe this they see human life as worthwhile no matter how imperfect, impractical, or inconvenient. They believe that abortion is wrong because a person is destroying the image of God and believe that it is biblically immoral to act as God and decide whether a fetus has the right to live or die. (Larson)

Another way that the Pro-Life movement argues its case against abortion is on the case of morality in society. An example of this is seen in Dr. Bernard Nathenson. Dr. Bernard Nathenson is an ex abortionist who once operated the largest abortion clinics in America. He presided over sixty thousand abortions with over seven thousand abortions done at his own hand. During one abortion he decided to use ultra sound to see what happened during an abortion. This ultra sound became a famous Pro-Life movie feature know as the Silent Scream Film.

During this abortion the abortionists watched as the baby was cut apart and vacuumed out. The abortion took about fifteen minutes and the baby lived through most of it. Dr. Nathenson saw for the first time the fetus struggle to stay alive and he watched the head roll back and the mouth open in what he called her silent scream. After seeing what happened during the abortion, all the abortionists who performed the abortion left the clinic forever.

After seeing the film Dr. Nathenson agreed with the Pro-Life movement that the fetus is no less than a human person, and he thinks that it is morally wrong to murder an unborn baby. The Pro-Life movement, informed by biblical standards, believes that abortion is morally wrong. (Bonstrom)

Another way that the Pro-Life movement argues its case against abortion is with what modern medical science has found about abortion.

The Hippocratic Oath which western medical practice was founded state this: I will use a treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgment, but never will I administer a poison when asked to, nor will I suggest such a course. Similarly, I will not give to a women an instrument to produce an abortion. The Pro-life movement uses this oath to show that the founding fathers of western medicine did not believe in abortion. (Larson)

They also say that the dangers of abortion are many and can be deadly. Women who die from abortions die from such things as bleeding, blood clots, the inability for the blood to clot, blood transfusions, diseases obtained from blood transfusions, and many others. However, the ones that are most deadly are infections, hemorrhage, and uterine perforation. These are the causes of deaths that have been reported by the abortion clinics across America. (abortionisprolife.com)

The most common way that infection can happen after an abortion is by a careless oversight by the abortionist. While performing the abortion the abortionist might leave a limb or body part inside of the woman. This piece of the fetus is not supposed to be there the body reacts negatively to it and the area becomes infected. The infections can get bad enough to kill a woman. (abortionfacts.com)

The Pro-Choice movement says that along with the reported deaths there are deaths causes by abortions that go unreported for example: a woman hemorrhaged, was transfused, got hepatitis, and died months later. Official cause of death is hepatitis the actual cause of death is her abortion. Another example is a woman has an abortion after is in deep depression and feels guilty and commits suicide. The cause of death is suicide the actual cause is her abortion. (abortionisprolife.com)

Another problem that abortion causes is Post Abortion Syndrome. Post Abortion Syndrome or PAS is a type of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PAS normally happens to the woman that had the abortion, but it some cases family members, fathers, and abortionists have suffered from PAS. (forerunner.com)

The symptoms of PAS are: difficulty concentrating; exaggerated startled responses to memories of the abortion experience; physiological reactions to events that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the abortion; self-devaluation; and the inability to forgive the abortion decision. The intensity of PAS is directly linked to how voluntary the abortion decision was. (forerunner.com)

I believe that abortion is wrong and should not be an accepted means to end an unwanted pregnancy. First of all, my belief as a Christian cannot condone the killing of babies, the scriptures clearly state that a baby is formed in its mothers womb and the lord knows him or her before he or she was born (Psalm 139).

Apart from my belief in the Bible as the Lords spoken truth I believe that abortion is morally wrong in any society. The majority of all societies condemn the murder of infants. I believe that infancy begins in the mothers room.

For society to remain stable, the society must have clearly defined rules to protect the weak and the innocent. People should not have the right to kill because another persons life may adversely affect theirs.

Every person should be able to live. The reason why is simple and Pope John Paul II said it best Life is a good. This is an instinctive perception and fact of experience, and man is called to grasp the profound reason why this is so. (John Paul).

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