Thinking About Abortion- Part 4 - The Ethics of Abortion

Why would a woman would want to terminate a pregnancy?  

I think it is safe to assume it is not a spur of the moment decision.  Some fear is at work.  It might be fear of shame.  Ironically shaming is a form of coercion that often grows out of some of the same institutional religions that seek to ban abortion.   

The fear may often be fear of the responsibility.  Maybe the woman is having a hard time supporting herself, and does not have parents or a partner she can rely on.  How will she support a child.  What will another mouth, and childcare responsibilities do to her life?   

Even in those cases where the abortion is simply about not being tied down by a child - what kind of life can a child born to a mother who doesn't want the child expect?  How much greater is the risk forcing women to bear the child will doom that child to a life of neglect, or poverty, or drugs, or gangs?  Was it just a coincidence that a generation after abortion restrictions were struck down in 1972 crime rates starting dropping? 

It is understandable for a Christian motivated by the teachings of Jesus to be distressed by a woman wanting an abortion.  But don't Jesus's teachings suggest the response should be about alleviating the concerns that would cause a woman to not want the child, so the woman would choose to be a mother?   

The real irony is that politicians seeking to prohibit abortion are almost always hostile to social programs that might help a woman avoid pregnancy in the first place, or make a woman more comfortable with taking on the responsibility of a child.  That hostility is often linked to cutting taxes.   As the anti abortion movement has developed momentum in the last couple decades we have seen a simultaneous reduction in social programs aimed at assisting those with financial or emotional difficulties - to fund tax cuts.  Doesn't sound like Jesus to me. 

A justification for cutting government programs often offered is that religious organizations do it better than government - i.e government is incompetent.  But since the 1980's when that justification became dominant, institutional religious have generally not exhibited the capability or willingness to undertake the financial obligations required.  

Further, help from institutional religion almost always comes with strings attached.   You buy into their view of the world or you don't get help.  In essence the religions pre-judge sins and help only those whom they deem will not sin, and cast others out.  More coercion.  I never read a word from Jesus that suggests he approves of coercion.  

Part 5 will look at the political economics of abortion.