Religious Studies: Abortion Coursework - page 4
Keywords: Religious Studies: Abortion Coursework GCSE Religious Studies Education RS RE R.E. R.S.
By slashwk on 23/11/2006 17:34:37
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 4 of 9 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
of the womb and you shall not murder the infant already born’ Didache
This instruction is self explanatory and clear cut for the majority of Roman Catholics, but is overlooked by followers in other denominations as the book ‘Didache’ is not included in their versions of the Bible. The teachings of the Catholic Church are clarified in the ‘Declaration on Procured Abortion’ which was published in 1974. It explained:
• All people (even non-Christians) should have respect for human life and human rights
• The movement for women’s rights is acceptable when freeing women from injustice, but cannot be used as an excuse for abortion, denying another person the right to live
• Although abortion was murder, the reasons as to why people ask for abortions must be taken seriously, and that Christians must do all they can do ‘remedy’ them
The Declaration taught the following about the beginning of human life:
‘From the time that a life is begun which is neither that of the father nor of the mother. It is rather the life of a new human being with its own growth. It would never be made human if it were not human already’
Declaration on Procured Abortion, 1974
Having said this, the Roman Catholic Church does allow abortion in a certain circumstance and is known as the ‘Principle of Double Effect’. This principle allows procured abortion if it is the unavoidable result of necessary life saving treatment given to the mother.
The Roman Catholic Church also has a specific belief that abortion must not be permitted when conception was a result of rape, explaining that the foetus should not have to pay the price for another’s sin. Roman Catholics are encouraged to continue with the pregnancy and have the baby adopted if they really cannot manage to bring the child up as normal.
The Church of England, as with most moral and ethical cases, agrees with the Roman Catholic Church in principle, but has more flexibility and an understanding that each and every case is different. In a report in 1984, the Church of England stated the following:
‘The foetus is to be specially respected and protected…nonetheless the life of the foetus is not absolutely sacrosanct if it endangers the life of the mother’
Church of England 1984
This view corresponds to that of the Roman Catholic Church in the sense that they both put the mother’s health first. The Church of England permits abortion in the following circumstances:
• If there
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