Pro-life protesters at Parliament Square, London on 20 May 2008. Parliament Square is a square outside the northwest end of the Palace of Westminster in London. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Events 325 - The First Council of Nicaea &ndash the first Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church is held 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common

Abortion debate Part of the abortion series Movements Pro-choice Pro-life Issues of discussion - Breast cancer - CPCs - Crime effect - Ethics - Fetal pain - Fetal rights - Genetics - Late-term - Libertarianism - Mental health - Minors - Paternal rights - Philosophy - Public opinion - Religion - Self-induced - Sex-selection - Unsafe abortion - Women's rights - Violence

Pro-life is a term representing a variety of perspectives and activist movements in bioethics. The abortion debate refers to discussion and controversy surrounding the moral and legal status of Abortion. An Overview See also Ethical aspects of abortion Pro-choice advocates emphasize their beliefs that having a child is a personal choice that affects a woman's body and The abortion-breast cancer (ABC hypothesis (supporters call it the abortion-breast cancer link posits that induced Abortion increases the risk of developing Breast cancer Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs also known as pregnancy resource centers are Non-profit organizations established by Pro-life supporters that work to persuade The legalized abortion and crime effect is the controversial Theory that legal Abortion reduces Crime. The ethical aspects of Abortion are much discussed in all major philosophies and Religions in the world particularly (but not exclusively in the Christian Fetal pain, its existence and its implications are part of a larger debate about Abortion. The term fetal rights can refer either to legal rights accorded to Fetuses or to ethical rights of fetuses The genetics and abortion issue is an extension of the Abortion debate and the Disability rights movement Late-term abortions are Abortions which are performed during a later stage of Pregnancy. Libertarians promote individual liberty and seek to minimize the role of the state The relationship between induced Abortion and Mental health is an area of controversy Many jurisdictions have laws applying to minors and abortion. The paternal rights and abortion issue is an extension of both the Abortion debate and the Fathers' rights movement The philosophical aspects of the abortion debate are presented in the form of a number of Logical arguments which can be made in support of or opposition to Abortion Societal attitudes towards abortion have varied throughout different historal periods and Cultures One manner of assessing such attitudes in the modern era has been Many religious traditions have taken a stance on Abortion, and these stances span a broad spectrum from acceptance to rejection A self-induced abortion is an Abortion performed outside the recognized medical system Sex-selective abortion is the targeted Abortion of a Fetus based upon its Sex. According to the World Health Organization (WHO an unsafe abortion is the termination of an unintended pregnancy either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an Abortion-related violence, or anti-abortion violence, is criminal violence committed against individuals and organizations that provide Abortion. Bioethics is the philosophical study of the ethical controversies brought about by advances in Biology and Medicine. It can be used to indicate opposition to practices such as euthanasia, human cloning, research involving human embryonic stem cells, and the death penalty, but arguably more commonly (especially in the media and popular discourse) to abortion, and support for fetal rights. Euthanasia (literally "good death" in Ancient Greek) refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner Human cloning is the creation of a genetically identical copy of a Human being human cell, or human tissue. Embryonic stem cells (ES cells are Stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of an early stage Embryo known as a Blastocyst. Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the Killing of a person by judicial process as Punishment. An The term describes the political and ethical view which maintains that all human beings have the right to life, and that this includes fetuses and embryos.

On the issue of abortion, attempts by pro-life campaigners to pass laws against abortion are opposed by pro-choice campaigners who argue that the central issue is a completely different set of rights: the human rights of the pregnant woman to choose to terminate her pregnancy or carry it to term. Overview See also Ethical aspects of abortion Pro-choice advocates emphasize their beliefs that having a child is a personal choice that affects a woman's body and The pro-choice view believes that a woman, and not the government, should have complete control over her fertility and pregnancy, and that this entails the guarantee of reproductive rights. Reproductive rights are Rights relating to reproduction and Reproductive health.

Overview

Pro-life individuals generally believe that human life should be valued either from fertilization or implantation until natural death. For soil improvement see Fertilization (soil. Implantation is an event that occurs early in pregnancy in which the Embryo adheres to the wall of Uterus. The contemporary pro-life movement is typically, but not exclusively, associated with Christian morality (especially in the United States), and has influenced certain strains of bioethical utilitarianism. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Morality (from the Latin la moralitas "manner character proper behavior" has three principal meanings ^[1] From that viewpoint, any action which destroys an embryo or fetus kills a human being. An embryo (from Greek:, plural, lit "that which grows" from en- "in" + bryein "to swell be full" is a multicellular A fetus (or foetus or fœtus) is a developing Mammal or other Viviparous Vertebrate, after the Embryonic stage and Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus Any deliberate destruction of human life is considered ethically or morally wrong and is not considered to be mitigated by any alleged benefits to others, as such benefits come at the expense of the life they consider as a person. In some cases, this belief extends to opposing abortion of fetuses that would almost certainly be unviable, such as anencephalitic fetuses. Anencephaly is a Cephalic disorder that results from a Neural tube defect that occurs when the cephalic (head end of the neural tube fails to close usually between Euthanasia and assisted suicide are also opposed by some pro-life people based on a belief that all human life is sacred and must be protected even against the wishes of people who want to end their own lives.

Some Pro-lifers oppose certain forms of birth control, particularly hormonal contraception such as ECP's, which are alleged to prevent the implantation of an embryo. Birth control, sometimes synonymous with contraception, is a regimen of one or more actions devices or Medications followed in order to deliberately prevent Hormonal contraception refers to Birth control methods that act on the hormonal system Implantation is an event that occurs early in pregnancy in which the Embryo adheres to the wall of Uterus. Because pro-life advocates largely believe that personhood begins at conception, they refer to these forms of birth control with the technically incorrect term "abortifacients". Controversy over the beginning of pregnancy usually occurs in the context of the Abortion debate An abortifacient is a substance that induces Abortion. Abortifacients for Animals that have mated undesirably are known as Mismating shots ^[2] The Catholic Church recognizes this view,^[3] but the possibility that hormonal contraception has post-fertilization effects is currently disputed within the scientific community. Hormonal contraception refers to Birth control methods that act on the hormonal system (See Also: Emergency contraception and implantation)

Attachment to a pro-life position is very often but not exclusively connected to religious beliefs about the sanctity of life (see also Culture of Life). In Religion and Ethics, inviolability or sanctity of life is a principle of implied protection regarding aspects of sentient life which are said to be holy The phrase "culture of life" is a term used in Moral theology. Exclusively secular-humanist positions against abortion tend to be a minority viewpoint among pro-life advocates. ^[4]

Diversity of pro-life views

Pro-life activists at the March for Life in Washington, D.C. on January 22, 2002. March for Life is an annual Pro-life rally protesting abortion held in Washington D Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D

The major stated goal of the pro-life movement is to "restore legal protection to innocent human life. "^[5] This protection would include fetuses and embryos, persons who cannot communicate their wishes due to physical or mental incapacitation, and those who are too weak to resist being euthanized.

Some pro-life advocates, such as those subscribing to the philosophy of a Consistent Life Ethic, oppose virtually all acts that end human life. The Consistent Life Ethic is an ethical religious and political Ideology based on the premise that all life is sacred They would argue that abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, and unjust war are all wrong. An

Others argue that the death penalty can be a fair punishment for murder, justifiably inflicted by lawful authority, whereas abortion is an attack on innocent human life that could never be considered because it lacks the same due process protections that a criminal trial requires before any imposition of the death penalty. Murder is the unlawful killing of another human person with Malice aforethought, as defined in Common Law countries In recent years, the issue of the death penalty has gained more attention because some pro-life advocates wish to create a more unified pro-life ideal that prohibits the death penalty. The Roman Catholic Church is one of the strongest proponents of this unified position. The increasing attention paid to this controversial position may result from the large Roman Catholic membership of the pro-life movement, a membership that is also striving to adhere to recent religious statements from the Vatican on the death penalty. ^[6]

While some pro-life advocates are opposed to euthanasia of humans under all circumstances, others believe that individuals, especially adults, should have the right to choose to end their own lives if they become terminally ill or severely disabled. Euthanasia (literally "good death" in Ancient Greek) refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner Terminal illness is a medical term popularized in the 20th century to describe an active and Malignant Disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated Because many such individuals are unable to communicate their wishes, euthanasia will likely remain controversial within the pro-life community. While some believe that direct euthanasia should only be an option for persons with the ability to communicate at the time of the procedure, others believe that individuals should be allowed to state their wishes in advance, such as in a living will, or that family members and/or persons with power of attorney or guardianship should be allowed to make decisions regarding euthanasia for persons who are unable to communicate. Advance health care directives or advance directives are instructions given by individuals specifying what actions should be taken for their health in the event that they are A power of attorney (POA or letter of attorney in Common law systems or Mandate in civil law systems is an authorization to A legal guardian is a person who has the legal authority (and the corresponding duty to care for the personal and Property interests of another person called a ward

Cessation of life support for an individual who is unable to live without life support is sometimes referred to as indirect or passive euthanasia. Life support, in the medical field refers to a set of therapies for preserving a patient's life when essential body systems are not functioning sufficiently to sustain life unaided Euthanasia (literally "good death" in Ancient Greek) refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner Although many pro-life advocates support indirect euthanasia for persons judged by their doctors as having little or no hope for recovery, other pro-life advocates oppose indirect euthanasia, even under those circumstances. Some pro-life advocates strongly disagree with the court decisions which allowed Terri Schiavo's husband to have her feeding tube removed. Theresa Marie Schindler "Terri" Schiavo ( December 3 1963 – March 31 2005 was an American woman who suffered brain damage and became dependent on a Feeding tube A feeding tube is a medical device used to provide nutrition to patients who cannot obtain nutrition by swallowing Indeed, most pro-life advocates familiar with the Terri Schiavo case framed the issue as one of direct euthanasia on the grounds that nutrition and hydration, in their view, do not constitute "life support".

In contrast, there are yet others who find that the pro-life movement's focus on legislative means is heading down the wrong track, believing that working through means of sex education, birth control, and aid to single mothers will more realistically reduce abortions while also drawing others into the movement. Sex education is a broad term used to describe Education about human sexual anatomy, Sexual reproduction, Sexual intercourse, Reproductive Birth control, sometimes synonymous with contraception, is a regimen of one or more actions devices or Medications followed in order to deliberately prevent Rather than causing a political divide by arguing what can and cannot legally be done and what laws should be passed about it, such non-legislative pro-life goals are sought in order to bridge the gap with those who may consider themselves against abortion but pro-choice, because they cannot agree with passing restrictive laws--whether concerning gestation or anything else. An Overview See also Ethical aspects of abortion Pro-choice advocates emphasize their beliefs that having a child is a personal choice that affects a woman's body and Gestation is the carrying of an Embryo or Fetus inside a Female Viviparous Animal. Two prominent groups holding this ideology are Anarchists for Life--a pro-life anarchists group--which objects to legislative solutions to any problem by definition (since anarchists in general are anti-government)^[7] and Feminists for Life^[8]. Legislation (or " Statutory law " is law which has been promulgated (or " Enacted quot by a Legislature or other Governing

Other pro-life views also encompass life extension. Life extension refers to an increase in maximum or average lifespan, especially in humans by slowing down or reversing the processes of aging. Aging kills about 100,000 people per day and some people such as Aubrey de Grey advocate research to help sustain their lives^[9]. Dr Aubrey David Nicholas Jasper de Grey (born 20 April 1963 in London, England) is a British biomedical gerontologist One fundamental tenet of this view is that humans have the right to live as long as they wish to. ^[10] Some, such as the Extropians, take this to the extreme: they intend to defeat death. Extropianism, also referred to as extropism or Extropy, is an evolving framework of values and standards for continuously improving the human condition ^[11] Such people often use the rhetoric of other pro-life advocates (for example referring to aging as "slaughter" ^[12] and invoking the phrase "Our Right to Life"). ^[10] While this group is a distinct minority, they are a growing and burgeoning movement, and seek to put new meaning into the phrase "pro-life". ^[13]

The debate

A pro-life memorial in Bytom, Poland. Bytom (Beuthen is a City in southern Poland with 188234 inhabitants (2007 Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Partial translation: "Dedicated in memory of unborn children – victims of abortion".

After more than forty years of debate, the abortion issue remains one of the broader and more controversial societal issues. A broad spectrum of positions exists on this issue, from those who advocate abortion-on-demand at any point during a pregnancy on the one end (100% pro-choice), to those who oppose every form of abortion on the other (100% pro-life). Between these two there is a considerable range of positions. Some oppose abortion, but are content to work at reducing the number of abortions through prevention of unwanted pregnancies, a task they accomplish through encouraging abstinence, targeted sex education and/or increased availability of contraception. Sex education is a broad term used to describe Education about human sexual anatomy, Sexual reproduction, Sexual intercourse, Reproductive Birth control, sometimes synonymous with contraception, is a regimen of one or more actions devices or Medications followed in order to deliberately prevent Current legislation in United States Congress, the Pregnant Women Support Act, seeks to reduce the abortion rate in the U. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses The Pregnant Women Support Act was created by the Democrats for Life of America and introduced into the Congress by Representative Lincoln Davis of Tennessee S. without making any procedure illegal and without overturning Roe v. Wade. Roe v Wade, 410 US 113 (1973 is a controversial United States Supreme Court case that resulted in a Landmark decision regarding There are also some who support legal abortion within the first two trimesters but oppose late-term abortions. Pregnancy ( Latin graviditas) is the carrying of one or more offspring known as a Fetus or Embryo, inside the Uterus of a Female Late-term abortions are Abortions which are performed during a later stage of Pregnancy. Those who oppose late term abortions usually take the view that once a fetus has reached the point where it could live independently from the pregnant woman, the balance of rights perhaps swings in favour of the fetus. Some oppose most abortions but make exception for cases where the woman's life is in serious risk. In this category, some likewise make an exception for severe fetal deformities. A congenital disorder is a disease or disorder that is present at birth Others make exceptions when the pregnancy was not caused by consensual sexual activity or may violate social taboos, as in cases of rape and incest. Rape, also referred to as Sexual assault, is an Assault by a person involving Sexual intercourse with or Sexual penetration of another person Incest refers to any sexual activity between closely related persons (often within the immediate family that is illegal or socially Taboo. Some allow for all these exceptions, but stop short of abortion-on-demand.

Another issue is that of mandatory notification and consent. Some believe that a pregnant minor should not be allowed to abort her pregnancy without the notification or consent of a parent or guardian. Likewise, some believe that notification or consent of the woman's husband or the child's biological father should be required. These sorts of restrictions are often seen within the pro-choice movement as attempts to limit access to abortion and to violate the right to privacy. Reasons cited are that mandatory notification of the father could put the woman's social standing at risk, while mandatory notification of a girl's parents may cause the parents to react abusively. However, among the public, there is some support for these measures. In a 2003 Gallup poll in the United States, 72% of respondents were in favour of spousal notification, with 26% opposed; of those polled, 79% of males and 67% of females responded in favour. The Gallup Poll is the division of Gallup that regularly conducts public Opinion polls in the United States and more than 140 countries around the world ^[14] In many states, such restrictions are mandated by law, though often with the right of judicial oversight.

Generally speaking, the pro-life position regards abortion as a form of infanticide, and thus seeks legal restrictions on abortions. Infanticide is the practice of someone intentionally causing the death of an Infant. Pro-life advocates typically argue that if a pregnant woman is unable or unwilling to raise the child, there is the option of placing the child up for adoption. Adoption is the act of legally placing a child with a Parent or parents other than those to whom they were born

Public opinion is almost evenly split on the issue. Two polls were released in May of 2007 asking Americans "With respect to the abortion issue, would you consider yourself to be pro-choice or pro-life?" May 4th through 6th, a CNN poll found 45% said pro-choice and 50% said pro-life. ^[15] Within the following week, a Gallup poll found 49% responding pro-choice and 45% pro-life. ^[16]

Legal and political aspects

Democrats for Life of America demonstrates at the 2006 March for Life. Democrats for Life of America (DFLA is an Advocacy group in the United States attempting to reshape the political left primarily the Democratic Party, March for Life is an annual Pro-life rally protesting abortion held in Washington D

The U. S. Republican Party platform advocates a pro-life position,^[17] though some Republicans are not pro-life. The Republican group The Wish List supports pro-choice Republican women just as EMILY's List supports pro-choice Democratic women. For other uses of The Wish List, please see The Wish List (disambiguation The Wish List is an organization whose EMILY's List is a Political action committee (PAC in the United States that aims to help elect female candidates who are pro-choice to office The Democrats for Life of America are a group of pro-life Democrats on the political left who advocate for a pro-life plank in the Democratic Party's platform and for pro-life Democratic candidates. Democrats for Life of America (DFLA is an Advocacy group in the United States attempting to reshape the political left primarily the Democratic Party, The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. The former vice-presidential candidate Sargent Shriver and the late Robert Casey, a former two term governor of Pennsylvania, are among the most well-known pro-life Democrats. Robert Sargent Shriver Jr (born November 9 1915 is an American Democratic Politician and Activist. For other people with the same name see Robert Casey. Robert Patrick Casey Sr The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern His son, Bob Casey, Jr. is now a pro-life Democratic US Senator. Robert Patrick Casey Jr (born April 13, 1960) better known as Bob Casey Jr There are also Republicans who have taken stances in favor of allowing abortion, such as Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, current Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City and the late former President Gerald Ford. Arlen Specter (born February 12 1930) is the senior United States Senator from Pennsylvania and a member of the Republican Party KBE Per, "Postnominal letters should be included when they are issued by a country or organization the subject has been closely associated with Michael Rubens Bloomberg (born February 14, 1942) is an American businessman and the Mayor of New York City. Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr (July 14 1913 December 26 2006 was the thirty-eighth President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977 and the fortieth Vice President

In many nations, such as Canada, the nations of Europe, Australia, the nations of Asia and Africa, and the U.S. there are many on the economic left-wing and political centre who either have personal disagreements with abortion or who oppose legal abortions outright. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In Politics, centrism usually refers to the political ideal of promoting Moderate policies which land in the middle ground between different political extremes Both groups generally consider themselves pro-life.

Motivations

Two strands of thoughts can be distinguished within the pro-life movement: religious (primarily Christian) and secular.

Religious

Main article: Religion and abortion

Christianity

Two people holding a pro-life sign at a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Estádio do Pacaembu in São Paulo, Brazil in 2007. Many religious traditions have taken a stance on Abortion, and these stances span a broad spectrum from acceptance to rejection Pope Benedict XVI ( Latin: Benedictus PP XVI; Italian: Benedetto XVI; German: Benedikt XVI; born Joseph Alois Ratzinger Estádio do Pacaembu, as it is usually called is a football Stadium in São Paulo, located on Praça Charles Miller no nº - in Pacaembu neighborhood São Paulo ( is the largest city in Brazil, with its metropolitan area ranking among the largest urban areas in the world |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Translation: "No to abortion". The rest of the crowd have both arms raised in a prayer gesture. Orans ( Latin, praying) (or Orante) is a female figure with extended arms or bodily attitude of Prayer, usually standing with the elbows close

A monument to the unborn in Ste Geneviève, Missouri.

Opposition to abortion by some Christians is based on a number of sources. The Didache, a short early Christian treatise, specifically prohibits abortion. The Didache ( Koine Greek:, Didachē, meaning "Teaching" ˈdɪdəkiː in English ðiðaˈxi in Modern Greek) is the common name of a brief Early Christianity is commonly defined as the Christianity of the three centuries between the Crucifixion of Jesus ( c The Bible, unlike the Didache, makes no specific mention of abortion, although it does mention unborn life several times. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin For example, Luke 1:44 cites Elizabeth exclaiming to the Virgin Mary, "Behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb (John the Baptist) leaped for joy". The Gospel of Luke (Gk Κατά Λουκάν Ευαγγέλιον) is a synoptic Gospel, and is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels of the Saint Elizabeth, also spelled Elisabeth or Elisheva ( Hebrew אֱלִישֶׁבַע / אֱלִישָׁבַע "My God Saint John the Baptist ( heb. Jochanan ben Sacharja, arab. يحيى Yaḥyā or يوحنا Yūḥanna, aram. Jeremiah 1:4-5, retelling God's appointing of Jeremiah to be a prophet, says: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you". The Book of Jeremiah, or Jeremiah ( יִרְמְיָהוּ Yirməyāhū in Hebrew) is part of the Hebrew Bible, Judaism Jeremiah ( jirmɛ'jahu; Septuagint Greek: Ἰερεμίας was one of the 'greater prophets ' of the Hebrew Bible. Such passages have been interpreted to reveal the personhood of an embryo/fetus. The term person is used in Common sense to mean an individual Human being. ^[18] While others interpret these verses to be centrally focus instead on the special significance of Jeremiah as a prophet and maintain that they have no relevance to claims that the fetus is a person. [2]

The Catholic Church teaches that "abortion is a grave sin against the natural law. "^[19] It believes that human life is sacred, and begins at conception. Under this view, abortion is equivalent to murder, and there are no permissible exceptions. When the life of the woman is in jeopardy, it is permissible to obtain life-saving treatment which may have the secondary effect of killing the fetus, but no direct action may be taken against the fetus/embryo itself, and all life-sustaining options must be exhausted. (An example is chemotherapy treatment for a pregnant woman with uterine cancer. ) It also ascribes to a Consistent Life Ethic: euthanasia, the death penalty, unjust war, embryo research, in vitro fertilization (which involves discarded embryos), artificial contraception (of which some methods may prevent implantation of a zygote in the uterine lining), and abortion are all condemned as violence. Euthanasia (literally "good death" in Ancient Greek) refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the Killing of a person by judicial process as Punishment. For other meanings see Zygote (disambiguation. A zygote (from Greek ζυγωτός zugōtos "joined" or "yoked" Church law provides that anyone who directly participates in an abortion is automatically excommunicated (provided they are aware of this penalty at the time of the act). Excommunication is a religious Censure used to deprive or suspend membership in a religious community ^[20] A valid sacramental confession remits this penalty. A sacrament, as defined in Hexam's Concise Dictionary of Religion is "a Rite in which God is uniquely active The confession of one's Sins is a religious practice important to many faiths e In accord with its opposition to abortion, the Catholic Church provides support to pregnant women in "crisis pregnancies," as well as to low income families.

Other Christian denominations hold varying positions on abortion. Conservative, evangelical, or fundamentalist Christian groups are more likely to oppose abortion, whereas liberal or mainstream Protestant churches are more likely to allow for it. Evangelicalism is a theological movement tradition and system of beliefs most closely associated with Protestant Christianity, which identifies with the Gospel Fundamentalism refers to a "deep and totalistic commitment" to a belief in and strict adherence to a set of basic principles (often Religious in nature a reaction "Mainstream" Protestant denominations (e. Mainstream is generally the common current of Thought of the Majority. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. g. the Episcopalian church, Church Of England, Presbyterian church, Methodist church, United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America), as well as Jewish denominations and the group Catholics for a Free Choice have formed the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. The Episcopal Church is the official name of the Province of the Anglican Communion in the United States. Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations The United Church of Christ ( UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination principally in the United States, Unitarian Universalism ( UUism) is a theologically liberal Religion characterized by its support for a "free and responsible search for truth The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ( ELCA) is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago Illinois. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice ( RCRC) was founded in 1967 as the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion and then later as the Religious Coalition for Abortion ^[21]

The Christian Alliance for Progress, most notably, has come out in opposition of abortion, but has advocated a program of assistance and prevention as opposed to the criminalization of abortion, opposes the death penalty, but maintains a neutral stance on euthanasia.

Hinduism

While Hinduism does not take the explicit anti-abortion stance that most Christian groups do, Hinduism teaches that murder is a great crime and one of the worst possible sins. Hindu teachings recognize a fetus as a living, conscious person deserving of protection. Also, according to Hindu Mythology, there are 16 Samskaarams or Sanskaars during the life cycle of an individual (Soul) which starts pre-birth at Garbhadhaan (Conception), thereby denoting that life is considered to begin at conception itself. One of the seven legendary immortals or Chiranjeevin in Hinduism, Ashwatthama, was cursed by Lord Krishna, avatar of Vishnu to immortality and eternal suffering partly for attacking a pregnant woman so she would miscarry her fetus (later born as Parikshit, grandson of Arjuna) when he was in his mother's womb. Krishna (कृष्ण in Devanagari kṛṣṇa in IAST, ˈkr̩ʂɳə in classical Sanskrit is a deity worshiped across many traditions of Hinduism For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific Arjuna or Arjun ( Sanskrit: अर्जुन arjuna) is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, whose name Parakashit was stillborn, but was raised from the dead by Sri Krishna. ^[22][23][24]

Islam

Islamic opposition is based on the concept that abortion is considered murder if done 120 days after conception and disfigurement of the woman's body if done before. According to a hadith (Sahih Bukhari 54:430 and 55:549, Sahih Muslim 33:6390), the fetus is not considered alive until the 120th day after conception^[25]. Sahih Muslim ( Arabic: صحيح مسلم ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, full title "Al-Musnadu Al-Sahihu bi Naklil Adli" is one of the Six major collections Islam does provide for some exceptions where abortion is permissible, such as when the woman's life is in jeopardy, repeated pregnancies severely damage her health, or rape^[26].

While the Islamic view of "ending life only when absolutely necessary" is universal amongst Muslims, a number of Christian groups, as well as members of the Jewish faith, have broken off from mainstream opposition to present a more ambiguous view, particularly on themes of abortion and euthanasia. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion

Judaism

Jews are considerably divided in terms of life issues. Adherents to Orthodox Judaism are particularly stringent in these matters, as Judaism stresses the sanctity of life above virtually all other considerations. Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized (Commandments for which one must accept death rather than violate include only murder, idolatry/apostasy, and forbidden sexual relations. Murder is the unlawful killing of another human person with Malice aforethought, as defined in Common Law countries Idolatry is usually defined as Worship of any Cult image, Idea, or object, as opposed to the worship of a monotheistic God. Sexual morality varies greatly over time and between cultures ) According to halakha (Jewish law) abortion is prohibited once 40 days have passed since conception. Halakha ( הלכה; alternative transliterations include Halocho and Halacha) is the collective body of Jewish Religious law Before 40 days have passed, most poskim (Jewish legal decisors) still generally prohibit abortion, though this interval is considered a period of lenience. Posek ( Hebrew פוסק po·ˈseq pl Poskim, פוסקים is the term in Jewish law for "decider"—a legal scholar who decides the According to the Talmud the embryo is considered to be mere water. The Talmud ( Hebrew: he תַּלְמוּד is a record of Rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history Rashi stated that the fetus is not a person ^[27]. For the astrological concept see Rāshi (Jyotiṣa. Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki, (רבי שלמה יצחקי better known by the acronym Rashi If a pregnancy threatens the life of the woman, all agree that the fetus must be aborted in order to save the woman's life. ^[28]

Other denominations of Judaism (Reform, Conservative, etc. Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently subjected to vandalism and the insertion of personal opinions Conservative Judaism (also known as Masorti Judaism in Israel and Europe) is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out ) espouse more liberal interpretations of the traditional texts, or often reject them outright as irrelevant or outdated. Consequently, adherents to these movements often take a more liberal stance on abortion issues.

Secular

Some pro-life individuals hold no religious convictions, and rely upon non-religious sources to base their arguments. Even some of those who are religious have used non-religious justifications when making public policy arguments, including some prominent pro-life politicians (for example, U. S. Presidents Ronald Reagan^[29] and George W. Bush,^[30] and U. S. Senator Sam Brownback^[31]). One of the more prominent secular pro-life advocates is Nat Hentoff of the Village Voice. Nat Hentoff (born June 10, 1925) is an American Historian, Novelist, Jazz Critic, and Columnist for This article is about a New York newspaper For the Ottawa Hills Ohio magazine see The Village Voice of Ottawa Hills.

Many disciplines of philosophy may be implemented in the formation of a secular pro-life viewpoint. Some make use of natural law theory, which would emphasize the primacy of the right-to-life as the most fundamental human right guaranteed by law. Natural law or the law of nature ( Latin: lex naturalis) is a theory that posits the existence of a law whose content is set by Nature and that

Biologically speaking, the zygote created at fertilization possesses a unique genome of human DNA, a unique blood type, and all other essential biological manifestations of a living organism (although, in the case of identical twins, that uniqueness is not preserved). For soil improvement see Fertilization (soil. In classical genetics the genome of a Diploid Organism including Eukarya refers to a full set of chromosomes or genes in a Gamete, thereby Deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) is a Nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known Life is a state that distinguishes Organisms from non-living objects such as non-life and dead organisms being manifested by growth through Metabolism Pro-life advocates assert that this constitutes membership in the human species and personhood, and therefore conclude that the deliberate harming of human embryos and fetuses is morally objectionable. Other pro-life arguments may hold that destruction of human embryos and fetuses constitutes discrimination against them, based on their stage of development. A further aspect, is a mother's instinct, which compells her to love her children, and not kill them. ^[32]

Term controversy

Both "pro-choice" and "pro-life" are examples of political framing: they are terms which purposely try to define their philosophies in the best possible light, while by definition attempting to describe their opposition in the worst possible light. A frame in Social theory consists of a schema of interpretation, that is a collection of Stereotypes that individuals rely on to understand and respond "Pro-choice" implies the alternative viewpoint is "anti-choice", while "pro-life" implies the alternative viewpoint is "pro-death" or "anti-life. " Similarly each side's use of the term "rights" ("reproductive rights", "right to life of the unborn") implies a validity in their stance, given that the presumption in language is that rights^[33] are inherently a good thing and so implies an invalidity in the viewpoint of their opponents.

Pro-life and pro-choice individuals often use political framing to convey their perspective on the issues, and in some cases, to discredit opposing views. A frame in Social theory consists of a schema of interpretation, that is a collection of Stereotypes that individuals rely on to understand and respond Pro-life advocates tend to use terms such as "unborn baby," "unborn child," or "pre-born child"^[34][35]

Activism

Pro-life activism involves a variety of activities, from promoting the pro-life position to the public in general, lobbying public officials, or reaching individuals - for example by attempting to dissuade individual women to forgo abortions. Some efforts involve distributing literature, providing counseling services, conducting public demonstrations or protests, and committing acts of civil disobedience. Civil disobedience is the active refusal to obey certain Laws demands and commands of a Government, or of an occupying power, without resorting to physical

Types of activism

Pro-life protesters make a silent demonstration in front of the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

• Free ultrasound: One type of pro-life activism is giving free ultrasound scans to pregnant women who are considering an abortion. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Not to be confused with Supersonic. Ultrasound is cyclic Sound pressure with a Frequency greater than the upper These usually take place at a crisis pregnancy center. Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs also known as pregnancy resource centers are Non-profit organizations established by Pro-life supporters that work to persuade The theory behind this practice is the belief that the pregnant woman will decide to carry to term once she views images of the fetus. A fetus (or foetus or fœtus) is a developing Mammal or other Viviparous Vertebrate, after the Embryonic stage and In the US, federal funding is provided for crisis pregnancy centers, many of which provide free ultrasounds. ^[36][37]

• The life chain: The "Life Chain" is a public demonstration technique that involves simply standing in a row on sidewalks holding signs with pro-life messages. The "Life Chain" is believed to be the largest Pro-life demonstration group in the United States and Canada. Historically, the most often used message has been "Abortion Kills Children" but other signs have been produced for use by Life Chainers that include, "Abortion stops a beating heart," "Abortion Hurts Women," "I'm a child, not a choice," "God Heal Our Land," "God Bless America," "Jesus Forgives and Heals," "Jesus Loves the Little Children" and "Jesus Loves You. " Life Chainers, as an official policy, do not yell or chant slogans and do not block pedestrians or roadways. This type of demonstration is extremely common, but some pro-life demonstrators question the effectiveness of this tactic. Many Right to Life chapters hold Life Chain events yearly. Right to life is a phrase that describes the belief that a Human being has an essential Right to live particularly that a human being has the right not to be

• The rescue: A "rescue operation" involves pro-life activists standing in front of an abortion clinic in order to prevent anyone from entering. An abortion clinic is a medical facility that performs or specializes in Abortions Such Clinics may be public medical centers or private medical practices The stated goal of this practice is to force the clinic to shut down for the day. Often, the protesters are removed by law enforcement. Some clinics were protested so heavily in this fashion that they closed down permanently. "The rescue" was first attempted by Operation Rescue. For the national organization formerly known as Operation Rescue see Operation Rescue/Operation Save America. Ever since former president Bill Clinton signed the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act into law, the rescue has rarely been attempted. William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III, August 19 1946 served as the forty-second President of the United States The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act ( FACE or the Access Act, Pub Some consider it "peaceful civil disobedience" but others fear that the openly confrontational nature of rescue operations may inflame an already touchy situation to violence. Civil disobedience is the active refusal to obey certain Laws demands and commands of a Government, or of an occupying power, without resorting to physical

• The die-in: is a variation of a protest by the same name which was first done to protest the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia In the pro-life die-in, protesters fall to the ground in the fetal position. A fetus (or foetus or fœtus) is a developing Mammal or other Viviparous Vertebrate, after the Embryonic stage and Often this is used to gain attention, in order for groups to distribute literature, and engage in conversation with the onlookers. Those on the ground do not move, hand out literature, or talk. Very few groups use this tactic, however Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust frequently use this method. Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust is an American Pro-life activism youth organization based out of Los Angeles California, and is directed by Cheryl

A pro-life van parked outside of an abortion clinic. An abortion clinic is a medical facility that performs or specializes in Abortions Such Clinics may be public medical centers or private medical practices

• The truth display: In a "truth display", protesters go to an area intending to display pictures of aborted fetuses. Though this sparks anger and controversy, some pro-life groups believe this is the most effective way of explaining their position. The members of one group based out of Riverside, California, known as Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, have been jailed numerous times for these types of displays which they set up both legally and illegally on university campuses. Riverside is the County seat of Riverside County, California, United States. Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust is an American Pro-life activism youth organization based out of Los Angeles California, and is directed by Cheryl A university is an institution of Higher education and Research, which grants Academic degrees in a variety of subjects Pro-Life Action League's Face the Truth displays are another example of a "truth display. "

A point of disagreement among pro-lifers is whether displaying shock pictures is really necessary. ^[38] Though many believe in the truthfulness of "truth displays", many feel that it is sufficient to display informative images of perfectly healthy fetuses in order to demonstrate their humanity, not their suffering. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus Proponents of these "shock tactics" argue that, unless people realize the precise nature of abortion methods/procedures and their tangible results, the pro-life position can never succeed.

• Sidewalk counseling: "Sidewalk counseling" is a form of pro-life activism which is conducted outside of abortion clinics. "Sidewalk counseling" is a form of Pro-life activism which is conducted outside of Abortion clinics Activists seek to communicate with those entering An abortion clinic is a medical facility that performs or specializes in Abortions Such Clinics may be public medical centers or private medical practices Activists seek to communicate with those entering the building, or with passersby in general, in an effort to persuade them not to have an abortion or to reconsider their position on the morality of abortion. An The abortion debate refers to discussion and controversy surrounding the moral and legal status of Abortion. ^[39] They do so by trying to engage in conversation, displaying signs, distributing literature, or giving directions to a nearby crisis pregnancy center. A pamphlet is an unbound Booklet (that is without a hard cover or binding) Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs also known as pregnancy resource centers are Non-profit organizations established by Pro-life supporters that work to persuade ^[39]

  The "Chicago Method" is an approach to sidewalk counseling that involves giving those about to enter an abortion facility copies of lawsuits filed against the facility or its physicians. In law a lawsuit is a civil action brought before a Court in which the party commencing the action the Plaintiff, seeks a legal or equitable remedy A physician, medical practitioner or medical doctor who practices Medicine, and is concerned with maintaining or restoring human Health The name comes from the fact that it was first used by Pro-Life Action League in Chicago. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. ^[40] The intent of the Chicago Method is to turn the woman away from a facility that the protesters deem "unsafe," thus giving her time to reconsider her choice to abort. ^[41]

Violence as a form of activism

Main article: Abortion-related violence

Violent incidents directed against abortion providers range from the arson and bombings of abortion clinics, as committed by Eric Rudolph, to the murders or attempted murders of physicians and clinic staff, as committed by James Kopp. Abortion-related violence, or anti-abortion violence, is criminal violence committed against individuals and organizations that provide Abortion. A bomb is any of a range of devices that typically rely on the Exothermic Chemical reaction of an Explosive material to produce an extremely An abortion clinic is a medical facility that performs or specializes in Abortions Such Clinics may be public medical centers or private medical practices Eric Robert Rudolph (born September 19, 1966) also known as the Olympic Park Bomber, is an American radical described by the FBI as a Terrorist Murder is the unlawful killing of another human person with Malice aforethought, as defined in Common Law countries In English Criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit Unlawful homicide and at the same time having a specific intention James Charles Kopp (born in Pasadena California on August 2, 1954) is an American citizen who was convicted in 2003 for the 1998 Sniper G. Davidson Smith of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) defined abortion extremist, animal rights, and environmentalism-related violence as "single issue terrorism". The Canadian Security Intelligence Service ( CSIS) (Service canadien du renseignement de sécurité ( SCRS) is the primary Intelligence agency of the "Animal liberation" redirects here for other uses see Animal liberation (disambiguation. Eco-terrorism, also called ecoterrorism or green terrorism, is Terrorism committed in support of ecological, environmental, or ^[42] Actual acts of violence against abortion providers and facilities in North America have largely subsided following a peak in the mid-1990s. ^[43] The National Clinic Violence Survey, conducted by the pro-choice Feminist Majority Foundation, reports that severe violence now affects only 18. The Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF is a Feminist Non-profit organization in the United State dedicated to "women's equality reproductive health 4% of abortion providers and facilities (2005PDF (80. 4 KiB) figures), a figure lower than at any time since 1994. A kibibyte (a contraction of ki lo bi nary byte) is a unit of Information or Computer storage, established by the International

In North America, the most recent act of violence against an abortion provider that resulted in bodily injury was on July 11, 2000, in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada, when Dr. Vancouver (vænˈkuːvɚ is a coastal Garson Romalis was stabbed in the back in the lobby area of the building where he worked; the most recent act of criminal damage against an abortion provider in North America was an arson at an abortion clinic in Virginia Beach, Virginia on May 9, 2007. Virginia Beach (pronounced /vɚˌdʒɪnjəˈbiːtʃ/ is an Independent city located in the South Hampton Roads area and one of the largest cities in Events 1457 BC - Battle of Megiddo (15th century BC between Thutmose III and a large Canaanite coalition under the King of Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[44]; and the most recent act of criminal damage by a pro-life extremist was an attempted suicide car bombing on the Edgerton Women's Health Center in Davenport, Iowa, on September 11, 2006 (the center did not provide abortions, but the perpetrator, David Robert McMenemy, apparently believed it did). ^[45]

The vast majority of pro-life advocates, as well as virtually all mainstream pro-life organizations reject all such violence , rejecting the use of homicide to oppose abortion,^[46] on the basis of the belief that both qualify as murder. List of countries by homicide rate Homicide ( Latin homicidium, homo human being + caedere to cut kill refers to the act of killing another Murder is the unlawful killing of another human person with Malice aforethought, as defined in Common Law countries They also believe that such violence will only hurt their cause. They rely upon other forms of activism like picketing and vigils, as well as legal and political action. Activism, in a general sense can be described as intentional action to bring about social or political change Pettie The Vigiljpg|right|thumb|200px|"A Knight's Vigil" by John Pettie]] A vigil (from the Latin vigilia, meaning wakefulness) is The American Life League has issued a "Pro-life Proclamation Against Violence. One of the largest Pro-life organizations in the United States, according to their website American Life League, or ALL, opposes all forms of Abortion "^[47]

Statistics from the National Abortion Federation^[48] show that violence against abortion clinics or providers has decreased steadily since a peak in 2001. However, the majority of the health-care facilities that perform abortions in the United States experience protests from pro-life demonstrators every year, of which the most common form is picketing. ^[49] Most clinics that perform abortions experience picketing at least 20 times a year^[49]: in 2005, 13,416 incidents of disruptive picketing were reported. ^[48]

See also

• Consistent Life Ethic
• Crisis pregnancy center
• Culture of life
• Pro-choice
• Natalism, or pro-birth
• Pro-life feminism
• Roe v. Wade
• Pro-life organizations
• Right to life

References

External links

For a list of groups opposed to the pro-life position, see Pro-choice. Overview See also Ethical aspects of abortion Pro-choice advocates emphasize their beliefs that having a child is a personal choice that affects a woman's body and

• Pro-life organizations and issues
  • AbortionFacts.com (abortion)
  • LeftOut (pro-life liberals/progressives) (abortion)
  • Pro-Life Action League (abortion, contraception)
  • Vote Life, Canada! (abortion)

• Pro-life religious organizations
  • Hindu Perspective for Life
  • Jews for Life
  • Friends Witness for a Prolife Peace Testimony (Quakers)
  • Our Lady of the Roses

• Pro-life secular organizations
  • Atheist and Agnostic Pro-Life League