"A way of life"

Introduction

1 The reality of abortion

1.1 The humanity of the unborn

1.1.1 The continuous process of development ......................................................3

1.1.2 The mother: supporting the child but never the same person ......................3

1.1.3 Human development from conception to birth ..............................................3

1.1.4 Foetal sentience/pain......................................................................................5

1.1.5 Foetal memory ................................................................................................6

1.1.6 Premature births..............................................................................................7

1.1.7 Care for the unborn ........................................................................................8

1.2 Abortion facts and figures

1.2.1 Abortion techniques......................................................................................11

1.2.2 Abortion statistics: the tragic facts ..............................................................12

1.3 Attacks on the early embryo

1.3.1 Birth control and abortion ............................................................................17

1.3.2 In vitro fertilisation ........................................................................................20

1.3.3 Embryo experimentation ..............................................................................21

1.3.4 Human cloning..............................................................................................22

1.3.5 The case for ethical alternatives ..................................................................24

1.4 Fatal discrimination

1.4.1 Handicap ......................................................................................................27

1.4.2 Pre-natal screening ......................................................................................28

1.4.3 Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis ..............................................................29

1.4.4 Eugenics and abortion ..................................................................................30

1.4.5 The continuing threat of eugenics ................................................................31

1.5 Examination of pro-abortion arguments

1.5.1 The unwanted child ......................................................................................33

1.5.2 Back-street abortion ....................................................................................34

1.5.3 Exporting the problem ..................................................................................35

1.5.4 Child abuse ..................................................................................................35

1.5.5 Abortion as medical treatment......................................................................35

1.5.6 Rape and sexual abuse ................................................................................36

1.5.7 The opponents of abortion ..........................................................................37

2 Religious and philosophical perspectives

2.1 Religious perspectives

2.1.1 From early times until AD 1000 ....................................................................41

2.1.2 The Roman Catholic position ......................................................................42

2.1.3 Other pro-life Christians................................................................................43

2.1.4 Equivocal or pro-abortion Christians ............................................................44

2.1.5 Jews and Muslims ........................................................................................45

2.1.6 Other religions ..............................................................................................46

2.1.7 Atheists and agnostics for life ......................................................................47

2.2 The dogma of choice

2.2.1 The rhetoric of choice ..................................................................................49

2.2.2 The fallacy of choice ....................................................................................50

2.2.3 Feminist critiques of choice ..........................................................................50

2.2.4 The truth about choice..................................................................................51

3 Legal and political situation

3.1 Legal situation

3.1.1 History of abortion law..................................................................................55

3.1.2 Current legal situation in Great Britain..........................................................56

3.1.3 Current legal situation in Northern Ireland....................................................57

3.1.4 Current legal situation in the Irish Republic..................................................58

3.1.5 Other legal issues ........................................................................................59

3.2 Political situation

3.2.1 Position of the UK government ....................................................................61

3.2.2 Positions of Northern Ireland’s political parties ............................................62

3.2.3 Role of the Northern Ireland Assembly ........................................................63

3.2.4 State of the debate ......................................................................................63

3.2.5 The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission........................................64

4 Abortion in the world today

4.1 The international establishment

4.1.1 The United Nations ......................................................................................69

4.1.2 United Nations conferences ........................................................................70

4.1.3 Manipulative use of language ......................................................................70

4.1.4 United Nations bodies ..................................................................................71

4.1.5 Other international pressures........................................................................72

4.1.6 International population control ....................................................................73

4.2 Culture of death in the UK

4.2.1 Creeping abortionism....................................................................................77

4.2.2 Brook advisory centres ................................................................................78

4.2.3 Pro-abortion sex education ..........................................................................79

4.2.4 Pro-abortion charities ..................................................................................80

4.3 Abortion on the global scale

4.3.1 History of abortion practice ..........................................................................83

4.3.2 Worldwide abortion law and practice ..........................................................84

4.3.3 The United States of America ......................................................................85

4.3.4 Recent developments ..................................................................................86

5 Consequences of abortion

5.1 Health dangers

5.1.1 Immediate physical health dangers ..............................................................91

5.1.2 Long-term physical health dangers ..............................................................92

5.1.3 Mental health dangers ..................................................................................93

5.2 The emotional aftermath

5.2.1 Guilt and denial ............................................................................................95

5.2.2 The toll on fathers ........................................................................................96

5.2.3 The toll on others ..........................................................................................96

5.3 Consequences on society

5.3.1 Lack of respect for the unborn ....................................................................99

5.3.2 A culture of promiscuity ..............................................................................100

5.3.3 Breakdown of the family ............................................................................101

5.3.4 The under-population crisis ........................................................................102

5.4 Progression to euthanasia

5.4.1 Link between abortion and euthanasia ......................................................105

5.4.2 The basics of euthanasia ............................................................................106

5.4.3 Euthanasia in the UK ..................................................................................106

5.4.4 The government’s proposals ......................................................................107

6 Affirming life in all its fullness

6.1 Pro-life successes

6.1.1 Examples of success ..................................................................................111

6.1.2 Grounds for optimism ................................................................................112

6.2 Human rights and the common good

6.2.1 The acknowledged value of each person ..................................................115

6.2.2 Philosophical basis of laws protecting human rights ................................115

6.2.3 Modern statements of human rights ..........................................................116

6.2.4 Origins of human rights ..............................................................................116

6.3 Bills of rights

6.3.1 Definitions ..................................................................................................117

6.3.2 International scrutiny and limitations ..........................................................117

6.3.3 About bills of rights ....................................................................................118

6.4 Abortion, women, children and the law

6.4.1 Basis for a pro-life bill of rights for Northern Ireland ..................................119

6.4.1 Proposed draft clause for the bill of rights ................................................120

Appendices

Appendix 1 Teenage pregnancy in Northern Ireland:
a response to a government consultation ..................................................123

Appendix 2 Muddying the waters:
SPUC comments on The Twilight Zone (1993) ..........................................129

Appendix 3 SPUC’s aims and achievements in the UK ................................................137

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