a) What do Christians believe about abortion? (8 Marks) Who Because And or but.. One Side Who Because And or but.. One Side

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The Offences Against The Person Act 1861 In 1861 Parliament passed the Offences Against The Person Act. Section 58 of the Act made abortion a criminal offence, punishable by imprisonment from three years to life even when performed for medical reasons. No further legal changes occurred in England until 1929.

The Infant Life Preservation Act 1929 In 1929 the Infant Life Preservation Act amended the law stating it would no longer be regarded as a felony if abortion was carried out for the sole purpose of preserving the life of the mother. The Act made it illegal to kill a child ‘capable of being born live’

The Infant Life Preservation Act weeks was set as the age at which a foetus must be presumed to be viable. A doctor was allowed to perform an abortion legally if he/she was ‘satisfied that the continuance of the pregnancy was liable to endanger the health of the expectant mother’.

The Bourne Case 1938 In 1938 a young woman was raped by a group of soldiers and became pregnant. Dr Alec Bourne agreed to perform an abortion for her and was subsequently prosecuted. Bourne argued that it was necessary to perform the abortion to preserve the mental health of the young woman. The doctor was not convicted. This case set a legal precedent for performing an abortion to preserve a woman’s mental health.

History of the 1967 Abortion Act After the Bourne ruling some women had abortions with the consent of a psychiatrist, to protect their mental health. Wealthier women were more likely to be able to pay to see a psychiatrist who could agree to a safe abortion, but many would have had no option but to seek illegal methods for ending a pregnancy.

History of the 1967 Abortion Act The cost to women’s health of illegal abortion was high with around 40 women dying each year and many more injured. Doctors, politicians and members of some religious communities worked together to pass a law that allowed for abortion in some circumstances.

History of the 1967 Abortion Act The Abortion Act was passed in 1967 is sometimes seen as one of the triumphs of the women’s movement. However, it was not passed to give women rights, but to respond to a public health problem. The law gave the rights and responsibility for decision making to doctors not women. It did not legalise abortion, but allowed for exceptions to the illegality of abortion.

The Abortion Act 1967 An abortion may be performed legally if two or more doctors certify that there is risk to: 1.the life of the mother; 2.the mental or physical health of the mother; 3.the physical or mental health of existing children; Or 4.the baby is seriously mentally or physically handicapped.

1990 and Beyond In 1990 the 1967 Act was amended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, which reduced the original time limit of 28 weeks to 24 weeks Beyond 24 weeks an abortion is only legal if there is a serious risk to the health of the mother or if the baby is seriously disabled.

1990 and Beyond Recent debate about the Abortion Act has centred on two possible changes to current legislation: 1.The removal of the need for a woman to seek permission from two doctors to have an abortion – in order to prevent unnecessary delays for women seeking abortion under 12 weeks. 2.Further reduction in the upper time limit on abortion.

Abortion

Church Teachings In 1140 church law decided that “abortion is murder only when a foetus is formed.” The foetus was believed to be fully formed at 80 days, when the soul entered it.

Abortion In 1869 Pope Pius IX declared that the foetus became “ensouled” at conception and, therefore, all abortions were murder. In 1917 the new Code of Canon Law declared that for Roman Catholics abortion was a sin at any stage in the pregnancy.

The Roman Catholic Church are against Abortion they believe that life begins when the sperm meets the egg. In 1930 the Catholic Church decided that abortion was not a sin if it was carried out on a woman suffering from cancer of the womb or an ectopic pregnancy. This was because in both cases, both the foetus and the mother would die if the abortion was not carried out.

“The Anglican view on abortion is that although 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 its mother.”(Church of England report, 1984) “Circumstances which may justify an abortion are direct threats to the life or health of the mother, or the probable birth of a severely abnormal child.”(Methodist Statement, 1980)

No Christian denomination will bury stillborn or miscarried foetuses.

a) What do Christians believe about abortion? (8 Marks) Who Because And or but.. One Side Who Because And or but.. One Side

Be able to produce an A grade exam answer about Christian views on abortion More than one point of view with supporting statements to back up your answer.

RC Life

Extend your answers statement so example Some Christians think that the most important thing is to do the most loving thing. They may allow abortions in some cases if it means that there is less suffering If a foetus is likely to have a terrible illness and will suffer.