What About Abortion?

When it comes to the topic of abortion the case of Roe v Wade still stands as a dark day in the history of the United States. The 1973 Supreme Court decision in this case legalized abortion. It was not voted on by the people nor was it accomplished by a bill sent through the Congress. Up until this time not one state had unrestricted abortion (Reagan). In January of 2010 the National Right to Life Committee reported that as of January, 2010, 52-million unborn children had been aborted in the 37 years since the Supreme Court’s decision. They stated that with an annual rate of 1.2 million abortions (those done surgically and with the use of the abortion drug RU 486) by November of 2010 the number would pass the 53-million mark (Ertelt).

In the minds of some, the question of the right of a woman to have an abortion is unimportant.  This opinion often stems from a humanistic, evolutionary and materialistic mentality.  Abortion becomes respectable when one is influenced by these three (Tucker).  In the matter of abortion it has always been puzzling how the rights of the unborn child seem unimportant. 

The Roe vs. Wade decision overturned a Texas law that prohibited any type of abortion unless it was shown that the mother’s life was in danger. In two years of hearing evidence the Court voted 7-2 in favor of overturning the law. The majority maintained that a right to privacy was implied in the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution (Dawn Stacey M.Ed).

Those involved in the case were Norma McCorvey known better as Jane Roe, and Henry B. Wade, District Attorney of Dallas County, Texas. Those representing the plaintiff were Sarah Weddington and Linda Coffee. The attorney’s for Mr. Wade were John Tolle, Jay Floyd, and Robert Flowers. Ms. McCorvey was introduced to Weddington and Coffee by an adoption attorney (Napikoski). These attorneys were searching for a client who wanted to have an abortion, but could not obtain one and one that would not travel elsewhere to secure an abortion as this might make their case of none affect (Napikoski).

Surprising to many is the fact that the woman who was the centerpiece of this case that has divided a nation and sent millions of unborn babies to their death never had an abortion. At the time the case was filed McCorvey was 21 years old and on her third pregnancy. She delivered a girl who was given up for adoption (Wood).

Roe vs. Wade opened the door for mass murder without prosecution. Of the some 52-million plus abortions that have occurred since 1973 it has to be wondered just how many great minds have been lost, how many cures might have been found, how many great leaders the world will never know because they were murdered in their mother’s womb. In the minds of some, the aborting of a baby is as simple as having the appendix removed. In his book, Beyond Choice, Don Baker told of a girl who had three abortions without any thought of considering God in her decision. In reality the lack of concern for God and His word is the reason the sacredness of life in not held in esteem by so many today (Baker).

It is important that Christians let it be known that abortion is wrong. Sadly in the society of the 21st century many are desensitized to what abortion really is; the taking of human life. The word itself is used to lessen the idea that someone is dying. Abortionists will say pregnancies are being “terminated” or “interrupted” to remove the “products of conception.” The fact that abortion takes a baby’s life is never mentioned by those who support this grizzly act (Sachdev).

God’s word teaches that life is sacred; it is given by God:

• God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. (Acts 17:24-26)
• So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27)

The word of God does not give a distinction between prenatal and postnatal life:

• Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:4, 5)
• I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:14-16)
• Jesus and John were alive in their mother’s womb from conception (Luke 1:41, Taylor Jr).

Abortions are sought out for several different reasons. Wm. Robert Johnston in his paper entitled, “Reasons Given for Having Abortions in the United States” reported:

Actual percentage of U.S. abortions in “hard cases” are estimated as follows: in cases of rape or incest, 0.3%; in cases of risk to maternal health or life, 1%; and in cases of fetal abnormality, 0.5%. About 98% of abortions in the United States are elective, including socio-economic reasons or for birth control. This includes perhaps 30% for primarily economic reasons.

Reasons given for elective abortion rage from believing a baby would interfere with careers or school, women having problems with their partner or husband, or not being able to afford another child (Sanders). In a culture where evolution and humanism are believed and taught in the public school systems, these reasons may seem acceptable, but they are not.

Roe vs. Wade and all the legal wrangling since that case have not changed the gruesomeness and sinfulness of abortion. The abortionist has several methods at his disposal to use in killing the unborn child. Dr. J. C. Willke in his book, Abortion: Questions and Answers, tells of the three main ways:  those that invade the uterus and kill the child by instruments which enter the uterus through the cervix; those that kill the preborn child by administration of drugs and then induce labour and the delivery of a dead baby; and, those that invade the uterus by abdominal surgery (LifeSiteNews.com).

During the first 12 weeks of pregnancy the suction aspiration method is the most commonly used method of abortion. A device known as a suction curette which is a hollow tube with a knife-edged tip is inserted into the woman’s womb. It is then connected to a vacuum machine 29 times more powerful than a home vacuum system. The unborn child is torn to pieces along with the placenta and is sucked through the tube and into a bottle to be discarded.

Up to 18 weeks in the pregnancy the Dilation and Evacuation method is used. This amounts to forceps inserted in the womb with the teeth of the forceps tearing and twisting the bones of the unborn child until the baby is completely dismembered and removed. In this method the spine must be snapped and the skull crushed in order to remove them. At this stage of a pregnancy the baby is about 5 inches long, able to hear voices and normally begins to be felt in the womb. If born at this stage survival is possible.

Another method used after 16 weeks is salt poisoning or saline injection. A needle is used to inject a strong salt solution through the abdomen of the mother. The baby swallows the poison solution. Acting as a corrosive the outer layer of skin is burned off. From the time the solution is introduced until the baby dies is about an hour. In about 24 hours the mother begins labor and will give birth to the dead baby (There have been reported cases where the child was born alive and left to die on its own. A few have survived and been placed up for adoption).

At 6 months a baby will have a waxy substance called “vernix” protecting its tender skin; it will have fine hair called “lanugo” on its body. At this stage the abortionist has a couple choices. Prostaglandin Chemical Abortion is often used. It causes contractions so violent that the baby is pushed out of the womb, some have been decapitated. A hysterectomy or Caesarean section can be performed. In this method while the baby is in the womb the umbilical cord will be cut and the baby will suffocate. On occasion the baby may survive either method and will be taken alive, and then left to die of neglect.

When the pregnancy reaches 30 weeks partial-birth abortions are performed. There are five steps to this type of procedure:

1. Guided by ultrasound, the abortionist grabs the baby’s legs with forceps.
2. The baby’s leg is pulled out into the birth canal.
3. The abortionist delivers the baby’s entire body, except for the head.
4. The abortionist jams scissors into the baby’s skull. The scissors are then opened to enlarge the skull.
5. The scissors are removed and a suction catheter is inserted. The child’s brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The dead baby is then removed.

The death of a baby by abortion is a horrible act that many never see for what it is but only hear about on news programs and presidential debates. As terrible as it is, it is not the only atrocity that occurs. The mother is left to cope with the decision she made in taking her baby’s life. Many years may pass before she will be able to cope mentally with her decision.

Abortion is a topic that Christians must understand and be able to tell others why it is condemned before God.

Works Cited

Baker, Don. Beyond Choice: The Abortion Story No One Is Telling. Portland: Multnomah Press, 1985.

Dawn Stacey M.Ed, LMHC. About.com. 22 June 2011. 15 October 2011 <http://contraception.about.com/od/abortion/a/RoevWade_2.htm>.

Ertelt, Steven. Lifenews.com. 26 November 2010. 15 October 2011 <http://www.lifenews.com/2010/11/26/nat-6891/>.

Johnston, Wm. Robert. “Reasons Given for Having Abortions in the United States”. 9 October 2008. 19 October 2011 <http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/abreasons.html>.

LifeSiteNews.com. 2011. 18 October 2011 <http://www.lifesite.net/abortiontypes/>.

Napikoski, Linda. “Norma McCorvey: The Women Who was Jane Roe” About.Com. 18 October 2011 <http://womenshistory.about.com/od/abortionus/a/norma_mccorvey.htm>.

National Conference of State Legislatures. 14 July 2011. 15 October 2011 <http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16430>.

Reagan, Ronald. Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation. New York: Thomas Nelson Publishing, 1984.

Sachdev, Paul. International Handbook on Aboriton. St. Paul: Greenhaven Press, 1986.

Sanders, Phil. “Rethinking Abortion.” Think July 2006: 6.

Taylor Jr, Robert R. “How Young People Get Hurt.” Power 1990: 29.

Tucker, M.H. Abortion and Euthanasia International. Hong Kong: Fair View Printing, 1982.

Wood, Douglas S. CNN.Com. 18 June 2003. 18 Oct 2011 <http://articles.cnn.com/2003-01-21/justice/mccorvey.interview_1_norma-mccorvey-jane-roe-abortion-rights?_s=PM:LAW>.