Alternatives to abortion LO: To explore the other options available Starter: ‘Adoption is better than abortion’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion [leave a gap as you will add to this later in the lesson]

Option 1 – Keeping the baby Previously, unmarried pregnant women were looked down upon and in most cases they were expected to give the child up for adoption. Now the social shame of being an unwed mother is not so strong. Single mothers relieve help with housing and social security benefits. The father is legally required to pay a contribution to the child’s upbringing and support, and a young woman may receive help from her own family. Read the case study of Cardinal Thomas Winning on page 92 – would the Catholic Church’s position be enough to not have an abortion?  Bullet point the key benefits of keeping the baby

Option 2 – Adoption Most adoptions taje place within a family, this is where relatives or step- parents will adopt and raise the child as their own. Other adoptions are by people who cannot have a family of their own or who wish to have more children. The law requires the parents’ circumstances to be fully investigated to check they can give the baby the love and care it needs. Adopted children are entitled to their birth certificates and adoption records at 18, and may wish to contact or find out more about their birth parents. Make bullet pointed notes of the religious views on adoption Think back to starter question and give the opinion of someone who would disagree with you

Option 3 – Fostering Fostering is when a mother places her child in temporary foster care until she is in a position to look after her child herself. Foster parents are paid by the government to look after a child within their own family. ‘Look-after children’ may stay a short time or longer if the situation requires. Some are eventually adopted by their foster parents or another family.  Create a list of advantages and disadvantages for fostering

‘Abortion should be allowed only if the mother’s life is at risk.’ Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer (6)