Embracing Abortion

Abortion...the word itself stirs up intense feelings of unexplained fear, raging anger, sheer hopelessness, or for some, instant relief. This controversial issue can ignite heated conversations and worthwhile debates. One cannot truthfully make an educated decision about abortion, unless full knowledge is accurately received and seriously contemplated. Is abortion ethical, legal, morally sound or safe? There are many things to consider when making your choice to terminate a life or allow it to continue. Let's begin with the basics.

In the Webster’s Dictionary, abortion is defined as the termination of a pregnancy, accompanied by, resulting in, or closely followed by the death of the embryo or fetus. Yahoo education defines it as termination of pregnancy and expulsion of an embryo (a multicellular diploid in its earliest stages of development, from the moment of fertilization until the end of the eighth week of gestational age) or of a fetus (the unborn child from the start of the ninth week after conception to the time of birth). According to MedicineNet.com, abortion is the premature exit of the products of conception (the fetus, membranes and placenta) from the uterus. Define.com says abortion means the removal of a fetus from the womb prior to normal delivery in a manner such as to cause the death of the fetus. Legally, abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by carious methods, including medical surgery, before the fetus is able to sustain independent life, as in USLEGAL.com. Finally, Mr. Joseph Fox, a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law, states “In light of what’s happened in abortion lately, and in light of what we know about conception, and in light of the church’s teaching of the sacredness of human life, the questions arose” whether the “legal definition used by the church is something more encompassing” than the traditional legal understanding of what is meant by abortion. Father Fox tells us that scientifically speaking, the term fetus is applied to unborn human life from the end of the third month until birth.

Knowing the definition of abortion is not enough to make en educated decision in favor of or against this important topic. Evidence is what seems to speak clearly and leave little doubt as to what really happens during an abortion. Most people do fully know or understand the reality of what takes place during an abortion. Forming opinions based on facts are important to making well educated decisions. We can form an opinion from the viewpoint of a single mother finding herself pregnant in unhealthy living conditions. We can also form an opinion from the viewpoint of a father, unemployed, caring for a wife and five other children who are in great need of food and clothing. But there is one other viewpoint we must consider; that of the unborn child. Conditions do vary in the life of the embryo or fetus that some might feel are reasons to withhold opportunity for the unborn child to experience life itself. But once you have witnessed the procedure of an abortion, no longer are you uninformed, but the truth and reality will speak for itself.

In the late 1970's, a young girl whose father had abruptly and surprisingly left her mother, sister and herself, was whisked into a world not of her on choosing. She lost the support and protection of a father she loved dearly, overnight. Her mother who had always done her hair in the morning before school and made her breakfast, met her at the bus after school, and taught how to grow anything in a garden made with their hands, was now nowhere in sight. This young girl grew to become a good mother herself to her younger sister, but by the time the girl was fifteen, she became so insecure, the need for a father figure in her life, drew her away from her much loved mother and sister into the arms of a man she hardly knew. Within a few months she was pregnant, alone and scared of what future she had made for herself. With the haunting advice of family and friends, this young girl visited a licensed physician through a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic. Hesitant to follow through with such a life-changing procedure, she felt there were no better answers. If she had this baby, what kind of home and life could she offer it? She has little money, no place of her own to give it shelter, and what about the expenses after it was born? She would basically be sacrificing her own childhood for that of the unborn child within her womb. She was a baby having a baby. The choice to adopt the baby was a viable option if necessary in the best interest of the baby, or herself. The physician and attendants informed her the child within was not truly a baby but a mass of cells and that the procedure was perfectly safe since she was a fairly healthy young girl. Still, there lingered the thought of life within her, that would be executed, ultimately by her own determination. She felt frantic and torn, but knew what she had to do. With only two hours until the abortion was to be performed, this young girl of fifteen, picked up the phone and canceled the appointment. Though her family and friends did not understand nor agree with her decision, it was hers alone to make and she could not take the life away from this innocent baby she was partially responsible for creating.

A year later, this same girl found herself in an equally pain stricken situation. Pregnant again, with a boy of only one, she now must decide to cancel the appointment for the abortion or to continue with it. This time, she goes through with the procedure, and walks out of the clinic leaving the remains of her unborn child in the hands of the abortionist. Feelings of overwhelming shame hit her immediately. She feels empty, wronged and like she has just made the biggest mistake of her life. Although she is no longer pregnant, she now lives wondering if that baby would have grown to be a beautiful girl, or a boy of adventure. Now, she will never know, and it was her own doing. This she must live with for the rest of her life.

Ten years later, this girl, now a wife and mother of four healthy children, heard a song played on the radio. It was of an unborn child speaking to its mother, who is anticipating having an abortion. The truth was made known that the woman was not carrying only a mass of cells within her body, but a formed unborn baby, with a beating heart, tiny hands and feet and the senses fully developed to experience the inevitable pain that an unborn child is destined to feel when aborted.

John 8:32 in a most highly respected book called the Bible, says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Upon hearing the truth of what happened during that abortion, the broken wife and shame-filled mother, fell to her knees, begging for forgiveness. Through a series of events that brought healing and restoration to this shattered woman, a new revelation of abortion was found. She was free from the pain and guilt of killing an unborn child. The truth had made her free, but she would always wonder what would have become of her child.
Another ten years later and the child that was spared from the abortion, my oldest and precious son, thanked me immensely for saving his life. For choosing his life over mine, and taking the chance of raising him in with great hardship, but nevertheless, giving him a life of his own.

After spending five years working as a hotline counselor at a Crises Pregnancy Center, I have had numerous opportunities to share the truth, what every woman considering abortion has a right to. This truth of embracing abortion, has changed minds and hearts alike. This knowledge has graciously given life to many, that otherwise, may never have had the chance to read this essay.

http://www.holylamb.com/info.htm gives you a graphic, but clear picture and understanding of abortion from the viewpoint of the fetus, or unborn child as previously defined. You decide, whether abortion is something to be embraced once the truth of the matter is known, or not. But from now on, I choose life for the unborn.

Merriam-Webster http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/abortion

Yahoo Education http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/abortion

Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryo

Healthline http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/fetus?utm_term=fetus&utm

MedicineNet.com http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2091

define.com http://define.com/abortion

USLEGAL http://definition.uslegal.com/a/abortion/

Voice http://www.trosch.org/ccl-abor_ptr.htm

Roe v. Wade http://www.tourolaw.edu/patch/Roe/

Interview http://www.priestsforlife.org/testimony/normapflinterview.htm

causing death Webster’s New World Dictionary Fourth Edition

Bible quote The Bible King James Version