This document discusses the complex ethical issue of abortion from different perspectives. It addresses religious views on when life begins and the sanctity of life. Some consider abortion to be equivalent to murder while others support a woman's right to choose. The document also explores factors that influence views on abortion and considerations around allowing abortion in certain circumstances.

1. Abortion

2. Abortion
It is an ethical issue.
It is a debate about what is morally right &
wrong.
Religious teaching says that the life of the baby
is sacred.
Many consider the rights of the mother to be
equally important to those of the unborn baby.

3. Possible Questions
• Abortion is legal if certain conditions are
met what are those conditions?

4. •Explain how religious beliefs &
teachings might influence believers
in their attitude towards abortion?

5. Abortion
This is an ethical discussion or argument.
“Is it right or wrong to abort a baby.”

6. It is also about women’s Rights
• Women who could not have abortions if
they were illegal went to back street
abortionists.
• They suffered as a result of this
• Many women died.
• So it is good that does not happen any
more.

7. It is also about the RIGHTS of the
Fetus
• Does an unborn child deserve protection
under the law.
• Does the unborn child only have rights if
you are religious.
• Since millions of abortions are performed
are we killing people who deserve to live.

8. What is an Abortion
• It means a termination of
the fetus.

9. Is it right or wrong
• It depends what your point of view is.
• You are not asked for your personal
opinion.
• You must argue a case for both sides.
• The religious views against those of the
mother/ child

11. People say if you
are going to abort a
baby then you need
to decide.
When does life
begin?
Why? Because
you might be killing
a person.

12. When does life begin?
The Catholic feels this happens at the
moment of fertilization when
the sperm meets the egg.
The soul is there.
God has a purpose for
the baby.
No life is there just by chance

13. Life is God Given
• Life each cell is created by God.
• If you destroy it you act against God and
have committed murder.
• Obviously murder is a serious sin.
• You will be punished for that by going to
hell.

15. Catholic Belief
• If you abort the baby you are
destroying life.
• This they believe is morally wrong.
• They see abortion as murder.
• They will however accept it if it is
absolutely necessary.
• If the mother was going to die & an
abortion could save her life.

16. Is the mother’s life more sacred than that of
the unborn child?
This becomes a choice between saving the
mother’s or babies life in a threatening
situation.
Most religions will accept an abortion in
these circumstances even if they do not
agree in principle.

18. When can an abortion be allowed?
• If 2 Doctor’s agree ;
• If the mother’s life is in danger.
• If the mother cannot cope emotionally ie
has two many children
• If the baby will be deformed.
• If the mother cannot afford it financially
up to 24 weeks

20. Religious beliefs
All Life is Sacred.
All Life is God- given.
All life deserves great respect.
God has a plan for every human life.
Life should not be destroyed.
Human life is precious and valuable.

22. The Sanctity of life
Christians say a foetus is a life.
Exactly the same as a living
person. If you take that life you are
murdering a baby.

23. Is a foetus a person?
• Today we now know a lot
about the developing foetus.
• There is argument to reduce
the time limit for an abortion
because we know how
developed the foetus can be at
24 weeks.

24. Is it a woman’s choice?
• The Christian faith says no it is not a
simple woman’s choice.
• She cannot be allowed to decide for herself
what happens to her body.
• She has to learn about rules.
• The rule is not to kill.
• The foetus is alive. It is a person. To kill it
is to act like a murderer.

25. Abortion
• It is a dilemma.
• It is an emotional subject.
• It is not a simple argument
• You must look at each case individually
• If a woman was raped & became pregnant
to simply tell her abortion is murder does
not seem ethical.

27. Jesus on Abortion
• There is no evidence that Jesus spoke on
abortion.
• What he did speak about was compassion,
love and caring. If we treat each case with
love and care and serious thought about the
consequences then are we acting with
Jesus’ principles?

28. The Old Testament
• In the Bible in Jeremiah it is
says
• “ Before I formed you in the
womb I knew you.”
• Many Christians use this quote
as evidence that God does not
want abortion.

29. “The parents of the unborn child should
have equal rights concerning abortion.” Do
you agree? Give reasons showing you have
thought about more than one point of view.
Refer to religious arguments in your
answer.

30. 1. In Christianity abortion is not a
simple matter.
2. The rights of the unborn child should be
considered.
3. In the Catholic Church the rights of the
unborn baby should be considered.
4. In this question it is suggesting that both
parties have equal rights.

31. 1. In the law it is fair to the mother.
2. However in faith the Church urges a
moral choice for the unborn infant.
3. In liberal protestant churches the rights of
the unborn should have as much equal
status as those of the mother.

32. Parents rights
1. Right to choose if unborn will threaten mother’s life
2.Have a large family & cannot afford it financially or emotionally
3. Child will be disabled & low quality of life
4. Unborn rights
5. Innocent so should not be terminated( sanctity of life)

33. End of
Abortion
Part Four