Many People have different beliefs of what is moral when it comes to an unplanned pregnancy. There are many different options for women to choose from, some include: adoption, foster care, carrying the fetus to the full term, or abortion. Abortion is ending a pregnancy before the fetus is capable to survive outside of the mother. This procedure can be done in the first trimester and in the second due to an emergency. Abortion is the slaughtering of an innocent life. The level of dependency should not affect their level of value. No matter how small, vulnerable, and dependent the fetus is, it is still a human being and deserves to be protected.
Countless women worldwide have unnecessarily aborted a pregnancy. It is said that even if the mother’s life is being threatened by the pregnancy, abortion is not the only option (Chittom). Doctors are able to resolve this issue by performing an emergency caesarean section, saving both the mother and child’s life. Numerous cases have been reported that mothers were pressured into an abortion or felt they could not do it alone. Health Research Funding states that 40% of women in one UK survey said that they wanted to keep their child, but the pressures of others to have an abortion forced their hand in the decision. There should be no forcing or pressure in making this decision. Once the child is terminated, there is no going back. Up to 33% of mothers will experience depression at least once between the time their child is born and the child’s 12th birthday, they will know every year when that birthday comes around and remember their child that was aborted (HRFnd). Scott Klusendorf put the defense against abortion into very simple terms. He compared the issue to this situation. A priceless photo is captured in a piece of polaroid film. It is taken and ripped in half, the justification being that it was just a lump of color with no meaning or purpose. This is parallel to the unborn child in the womb, it is already there, it just has not developed yet, so you just cannot see it (Klusendorf).
Whether or not a fetus is a living human being is a highly debated topic. It is scientifically proven that, as soon as a zygote, highly specialized, totipotent cell is formed, the being is now a unique individual. The level of dependency of an embryo does not decipher whether it is a valuable living creature. “Differences of size, level of development, environment, and degree of dependency are not relevant such that we can say that you had no rights as an embryo, but you do have rights today” (Klusendorf). Just because the fetus is dependent on the mother does not mean that it is without value. If this is so, anyone with special needs or diabetes, in need of insulin or kidney medication are worthless and should be killed as well. “If people believe that brain development and self-awareness make people human, then they agree with Joseph Fletcher who notes that those with an IQ below 20 or perhaps 40 should be declared non-persons, do they not?” (Klusendorf).
Abortions are desired for many reasons; whether it be for rape, incest, threats to life or health of the mother and baby and numerous reasons. Many people us abortion as an escape from the reality and responsibility of parenthood. In 1973, it was officially made legal to have an abortion during the first three months of a woman’s pregnancy due to the Roe v. Wade court case. The Roe v. Wade case came about when Norma McCorvey was denied an abortion in 1969. She like other Pro-Choice supporters believed that women should have the choice of when to have children because it is their body. Abortions related to rape are justified because the woman who was raped and now pregnant if she carries the baby to term and keeps the baby, this may send her into depression because she will think about the incident every time she sees the child. Many women defend that they do not have time for the child, a deficient amount of money or that they child will ruin their lives. The bible says otherwise.
Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a gift from the LORD: They are a reward from him.” God sends people children as a gift, they are not a punishment. The Lord talks about how he formed us in the womb and watched as he wove us together. Each of his creations are made perfectly in the image of God for his purposes. All creation has a purpose to have fellowship with Him. The same goes for the unborn in the womb, they are to be treated justly. We are commanded in Exodus 23:7 that we are not to kill the innocent and righteous. The old testament’s silence of the specific topic of abortion does not imply that it is just. It simply was not tacitly approved at that time in history.
Yes, even if women have the abortion, they will ultimately be forgiven and live under that forgiveness, but they will always live with the guilt and grief that comes along with terminating that child. Abortion is a very serious topic to discuss. To keep a child or not is a severe discussion for a woman to think about by herself along with her spouse or suiter. It is talking whether or not to kill and innocent child. Children are a gift from God and are not to be taken loosely. No matter how small, vulnerable, and dependent the fetus is, it is still a human being and deserves to be protected. Every life matters.