Abortion Essay

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Abortion is a very controversial social issue that has existed for many decades. The controversy behind this issue is caused by the different views that people and societies have regarding abortion. The social science disciplines of political science and religion will be used in getting a better understanding of the opposing views of abortion. In discussing the religious aspects of abortion, this paper will focus on the Jewish and Catholic views of abortion and how the two faiths effect an individual s decision upon having an abortion. When discussing the political controversy regarding abortion, this paper will discuss the abortion laws in Canada and the United States as well as the pro-choice and anti-choice movements of abortion. Society is greatly affected both socially and politically by abortions due to the different moralistic views regarding abortions and the controversies surrounding abortions. What are the views of the Catholic and Jewish religions on having abortions and how do their different views effect society? How is society effected by the political controversies behind abortions?

Religion and Abortion

Abortion is an issue that causes extreme divisions among various religious groups due to the laws of the religions, in particular, those of the Jewish and Christian religions. The Jewish religion is based on the belief in one G-d as well as respecting the laws that G-d imposed on the Jews. The Jewish people are expected to do what is just and merciful in the eyes of G-d (World Book, 1990). The Talmud, written by scholars who greatly respect G-d s wishes, is a collection of legal and ethical writings which serves as a primary guide to the civil and religious laws of Judaism (World Book, 1990). It states that the fetus is a part of the mother rather than a person or an independent entity, abortion is not considered murder, since the fetus is not a person until it comes into the world (Butler et al., 1992). Therefore, when having abortions under the proper circumstances and not for reasons of convenience, the Jews are abiding by the religious and ethical laws that G-d imposed on his people, which are inscribed in the book of laws. Depending on one s religious beliefs, one may view abortion as acceptable. Judaism is divided into three religious groups: the Orthodox, Reform and Conservative. The Orthodox Jews accept all the traditional Jewish beliefs and ways of life and strictly observe all Jewish laws and greatly respect G-d (World Book, 1990). Orthodox Jews therefore, discourage abortions expect if a pregnancy will threaten a woman s life (Butler et al., 1992). Conservative Jews however, de- emphasize the rituals of Judaism but they follow more of the traditional practices than do Reform Jews (Kolatch, 1985). Reform Jews believe that moral and ethical teachings form the most important part of Judaism and feel that many rituals and traditions do not have significance over them (World Book, 1990). Therefore, they have eliminated many of the traditional customs and ceremonies of Judaism (Kolatch, 1985). The Reform and Conservative Jews believe that a fetus is not a person and there is no restriction against having an abortion (Butler et al., 1992).

The political issue of abortion in Judaism began before the case of Roe v. Wade in 1973 (Butler et al., 1992). In 1967, the Central Conference of American Rabbis said that legitimate abortions were valid and urged all states to permit abortions for the emotional and physical well being of the woman and in cases which involve sexual crimes (Butler et al., 1992). The Jewish religion strongly supported the case of Roe v. Wade, especially since this case allowed abortions to be legalized (Butler et al., 1992) as well as, since the Jewish religion accepts abortions as long as it can be justified (Kolatch, 1985). In 1985, the Rabbinical Assembly of Conservative Jews implied that abortion is not only permitted but mandated by Jewish law when the woman s life or well being is threatened (Butler et al., 1992). These political issues as well as the laws of the Mishnah have a great impact on a woman s decision to have an abortion since following her religion gives her a sense of security, individual fulfillment and gives meaning to her life as well (World Book, 1990).

According to the Jewish religion, the proper circumstances for having an abortion are in order to save the woman s life, if the pregnancy will harm a woman s health and in cases of incest or rape (Kolatch, 1985). The Mishnah, one of the books of the Talmud, indicates that a mother s life must be saved even at the cost of the life of the fetus at any stage of the pregnancy, as long as the child is in the womb (Klein, 1979). The Jewish religion feels that the life of the mother is more important than that of the unborn child and that the mother s life has priority

over the life of an unborn child. Maimonides states that the child is sacrificed because it has the status of a pursuer, one who threatens the life of another, and its life may be taken as long as it is still in the womb (Maimonides, 1963). Therapeutic abortions are permissible in the early stages of abortion in the case of incest or rape where shame and embarrassment to the mother from the continuance of the pregnancy are considered threats to her health (Klein, 1979). In the case of adultery, a woman impregnated while engaging in adulterous action is not allowed to have an abortion (Kolatch, 1985) since the Ten Commandments state thou shalt not commit adultery (Exodus 20.1-17). When a Jewish couple gets married, it is their responsibility to have children in order to pass on the religion to the next generation. If a woman wants to have an abortion for reasons of convenience, it is forbidden (Klein, 1979) since G-d states that one must be fruitful and multiply . In the Jewish religion, children are considered a blessing and a marriage was deemed a failure if it did not result in the birth of an offspring (Klein, 1979). The Jewish religion does not see abortion as murder, yet aborting a fetus is a serious issue but when an abortion can be justified it is accepted yet, the matter is left to the decision of the woman based on her religious beliefs (Butler et al., 1992).

Abortion, in the Christian religion is viewed as a moral and social evil; therefore, it is banned in the religion (Butler et al., 1992). The Catholic Church has always condemned the destruction of innocent human life (New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967). The Church follows in the words of Pius XII who stated that: Innocent human life, in whatever condition it is found, is to be secure from the very first moment of its existence. This is a fundamental right of the Christian person even if the child is still within the womb (New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967). Even though abortion is forbidden in the religion, since Christianity stresses the moral qualities of love, mercy and self sacrifice as being closely connected with religious values (World Book, 1990), the church does not allow a woman to put the life of a child over her own (New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967).

The politics regarding the Catholic religion and abortion are important factors that need to be addressed in order to understand the Catholic position of abortion. In the United States, the National Council of Catholic Bishops has adopted the church s position as the law; therefore, the council urges Catholics to oppose abortion (Butler et al., 1992). The bishops and priests have used...

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