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“The right to life if first among human rights”- Pope Francis

An estimated 15.6 million lives are killed by abortion every year, according to a study conducted in the year 2015. This statistic indicates an abortion rate of 47 per 1,000 women. Abortion simply put is the termination of a pregnancy by removal of a human foetus i.e., the baby, from the mother’s womb. In the year 1971 India released its Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act which allowed for the medical termination of pregnancies, up to 12 weeks on the consultation of one doctor and up to 20 weeks of pregnancy on the consultation of 2 doctors. But there were various restrictions imposed on these abortion and hence they could only be done if one of the following requirements were met: -

a. If the pregnancy involved a risk to the mother’s life

b. If the pregnancy posed a significant risk to the woman' physical or mental well-being

c. In the event that the pregnancy was a result of rape

d. In the event of contraceptive failure and finally,

e. If there were signs of potential physical or mental abnormalities in the newborn child.

The Act was amended in the year 2002 to include more abortion clinics, to make abortion more “accessible”. The Act was further amended recently in the year 2021, with then legalised abortion till 24 weeks with the consultation and consent of 2 doctors and for abortions over 24 weeks, as long as it was certified by a government-notified medical board.

Our stance on abortion as a church

The heartbeat of a baby in the womb starts by the 5th week of pregnancy. And the brain, spinal cord, and other neural tissues of the central nervous system of the baby in the womb develop by the end of the 5th week of pregnancy. By the 6th week the arms and legs of the baby start to develop. The bones and genitals begin to form by the 7th week and finally at the start of the 8th week all the major organs of the baby in the womb start to form. Further developments of the body of the baby in due course of the pregnancy.

Though the bible doesn’t explicitly talk about the term abortion. There are multiple passages in the bible that talk about the sanctity of life. We as a church believe that every individual, right from their conception to their death has inherent value and dignity of life as they are God’s creation. The Bible includes the sixth commandment wherein God clearly commands His people, "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). This commandment encompasses the prohibition of intentionally taking innocent human life, including that of unborn children. Even the Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:5) and the apostle Paul (Galatians 1:15) speak of being set apart by God from right from the womb. And it is because of this we know that God values and has a purpose for human beings even before our birth. Luke 1:41 describes John the Baptist leaping in his mother's womb when Mary visited Elizabeth. This is seen as recognition of the personhood and humanity of the unborn baby in Elizabeth's womb. And in Psalm 139:13-16 David talks about being knit together in his mother’s womb. This is a beautiful reminder to us that our Creator God, breathes life into us. He knows every single thing about each one-of us and ordains our days according to His Will in our lives.

The notion that life in the womb is just a clump of cells is negated by the above verses. Though it might be challenging for some of us, let us put ourselves in the place of the baby in the womb, and feel the emotion of that baby, who will be deprived of his/ her life through some of the most heinous and brutal means of murder. The agony, anguish, and despair that one would go through if one is starved, cut into pieces, or poisoned and left to die, if done to a full-grown adult would be so unimaginable and considered inhumane. So how much more should we mourn for the loss of innocent lives in the womb, through these means? Why should we empathise and not protest such brutality and injustice? Why should we just be silent bystanders of this heinous act?

We, as the body of Christ, are called to stand up against this injustice, which is so rampant, acceptable, and considered a norm in today's day and age. We are called to be the voice for the voiceless.

They aren’t just a clump of cells, they aren’t just “foetuses’” or “embryos” or any other name people these days call them just to desensitise and dehumanise these innocent lives. Rather they are beautifully created beings, each unique in their own way, each having their own personality and potential, just like you and me to Change lives, build families and impact nations.

“The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or sovereign.” - Mother Teresa

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