Abortion: Complex Issue Or Moral Wrong?

Homework Assignments: (due Mon., 1/25) Parent Interview & Reflection Paper (see instructions on sheet) (due Mon., 1/25) Parent Interview & Reflection Paper (see instructions on sheet) (due Tues., 1/26) Read article by Mahony & write 2 prgh reflection (due Tues., 1/26) Read article by Mahony & write 2 prgh reflection (due Weds., 1/27) Read “How to Prove…” article & write opinion (due Weds., 1/27) Read “How to Prove…” article & write opinion (Thurs., 1/28) Slightly oversized “quiz” on notes & readings (Thurs., 1/28) Slightly oversized “quiz” on notes & readings

The One Relevant Question… “What is the Unborn?” “What is the Unborn?” Why?… Why?… It answers every possible objection… It answers every possible objection…

Most common objections: 1. “Abortion is a private matter between a woman and her God.” 2. “Many poor women cannot afford another child.” 3. “If abortion is restricted, women will die from back-alley abortions.” 4. Women should not be forced to bear an unwanted child.” 5. “You shouldn’t force your morality on women.”

Most common objections: 1. “Abortion is a private matter between a woman and her God.”

Most common objections: 2. “Many poor women cannot afford another child.”

Most common objections: 3. “If abortion is restricted, women will die from back-alley abortions.”

Most common objections: 4. Women should not be forced to bear an unwanted child.”

Most common objections: 5. “You shouldn’t force your morality on women.”

“What is the unborn? “If the unborn are not human, no justification for elective abortion is necessary. But if the unborn are human, no justification for elective abortion is adequate.” “If the unborn are not human, no justification for elective abortion is necessary. But if the unborn are human, no justification for elective abortion is adequate.” -Gregory Koukl

7 weeks…

8 weeks…

12 weeks…

14 weeks…

16 weeks…

20 weeks…

What is the “true picture” of abortion? The pro-choice often treats with contempt the pro-lifers’ practice of holding up to our faces their disturbing graphics… But how can we charge that it is vile and repulsive for pro-lifers to brandish vile and repulsive images if the images are real? To insist that truth is in poor taste is the very height of hypocrisy. The pro-choice often treats with contempt the pro-lifers’ practice of holding up to our faces their disturbing graphics… But how can we charge that it is vile and repulsive for pro-lifers to brandish vile and repulsive images if the images are real? To insist that truth is in poor taste is the very height of hypocrisy.

Besides, if these images are often the facts of the matter, and if we then claim that it is offensive for pro-choice women to be confronted with them, then we are making the judgment that women are too inherently weak to face a truth about which they have to make a grave decision. This is a view unworthy of feminism.” Besides, if these images are often the facts of the matter, and if we then claim that it is offensive for pro-choice women to be confronted with them, then we are making the judgment that women are too inherently weak to face a truth about which they have to make a grave decision. This is a view unworthy of feminism.” --Naomi Wolf, The New Republic feminist & abortion rights activist feminist & abortion rights activist

In other words… “If something is so horrifying we can’t stand to look at it, perhaps we shouldn’t be tolerating it.” “If something is so horrifying we can’t stand to look at it, perhaps we shouldn’t be tolerating it.” --Gregg Cunningham Executive Director, Executive Director, The Center for Bioethical Reform The Center for Bioethical Reform

7 weeks…

11 weeks…

22 weeks…

So, what is the unborn? The Catholic Christian position: The Catholic Christian position: Human life is a continuum beginning at conception and ending at natural death.

The Pro-Life position… is scientifically sound is scientifically sound is philosophically sound is philosophically sound

Why scientifically sound? 1. The unborn entity is genetically distinct from its parents (Possesses active (inherent) capacity to develop into embryo>infant>adult) Not “fertilized egg”, but self-integrating human organism Not “fertilized egg”, but self-integrating human organism No change in substance/nature, only in form No change in substance/nature, only in form Not potential human, but human w/ potential Not potential human, but human w/ potential

Why scientifically sound? 2. The unborn has human parents! (and each living thing produces after its own kind –principle of biogenesis) To find out what a thing is, ask “What are its parents?” To find out what a thing is, ask “What are its parents?” Human parents can only produce human offspring Human parents can only produce human offspring

If you reject the arguments, You must explain two things: You must explain two things: 1. What the unborn actually is 2. How two human beings can create a separate being that is not human, but later becomes one

Why philosophically sound? The unborn does differ from newborn, but are those differences morally relevant? The unborn does differ from newborn, but are those differences morally relevant? What are the differences? What are the differences? S.L.E.D.: Size S.L.E.D.: Size Level of development Environment Degree of dependency