John Stott on abortion

1. John Stott on abortion By Ed Rowe

2. The Doctrines of God and Humanity • As a Christian, Stott believes that God is the ‘only giver, sustainer and taker-away of life. • Questions of abortion concern our doctrine of humanity as well as that of God: • However undeveloped an embryo may be, however mentally impaired an elderly person may be- people still agree that the lives they are living are human. • This portrays the decision to terminate a life as an implicit judgement that a particular form of human life is not worthy of human respect. • Meaning that abortion is a challenge to divine sovereignty and also (for those with/ without faith) human dignity.

3. Revolution in public attitudes • In the UK, abortion was illegal until the Infant Life (preservation) Act 1929 - ‘when done in good faith with the intention of saving the life of the mother.’ • Abortion Act 1967- • 1.‘risk to Mother’s life,’ • 2/3.’risk of injury to mother/ child physically or mentally’ (if greater than if the pregnancy was terminated) • 4.’if the child were born it could suffer from a serious handicap.’ • Morning after pill (early abortion by preventing implantation of the fertilised embryo) over counter drug, available from pharmacists and school nurses. • Only one abortion in a thousand is carried out nowadays because of risk to the Mother’s life. • Is now considered by some doctors and clinics to be an extremely lucrative practice.

4. The Key issue- Pro Choice. • Emphasise the rights of the Mother, especially her right to choose. • See abortion as a retroactive contraceptive. • Idea of compassion in that they cite situations in which the mother or the rest of the existing family would suffer intolerable strain if an unwanted pregnancy were allowed to come to term. • The financial hardships, psychological distress, financial hardships and impact on other children of an unwanted pregnancy can be devastating.

5. Continued. • Perhaps the baby’s family members are cruel or violent. • Perhaps the mother is a schoolgirl or student and a continued pregnancy would interfere with her education or career. • What of rape, adultery and incest- these problems are great enough without an unplanned/ unwanted child. • Perhaps the other has contracted rubella during pregnancy and fears that her child will be disabled.

6. The Key issue- Pro Life • Those who oppose abortion emphasise the rights of the unborn child, and especially his or her right to life. • These people view abortion as prenatal infanticide. • Main appeal is the principle of justice- protecting the rights of unborn children, who can’t protect themselves. • Also work on the growing evidence that abortion causes much grievance to women. i.e. Higher rates of suicide, depression, self harm, and psychiatric hospitalisation. • This stands alongside significantly increased incidence of premature labour in subsequent pregnancies.

7. The Foetus as an inanimate object. Pro Choice • Medically and legally part of the woman’s body and not yet human. • Therefore choice of what to do with it lies with the mother. • ‘Not the Church, not the State, let the woman decide her fate.’

8. The Foetus as an inanimate object. Pro Life • Most Christians reject the idea that the foetus is just a lump of jelly, or growth in the mother’s womb. • Therefore it should not be removed and destroyed like teeth, tumours or an appendix. • It’s not the woman’s fate they’re concerned about, it’s that of the unborn child.

9. Birth and welcome-When does life begin? Rex Gardner • In his view, although a foetus is to be cherished as it develops, we should regard its first breath as when God gives it life and offers it life. • Biblical evidence Genesis 2:7 God breathed life into man’s nostrils ‘The Breath of Life.’ • Human experience- sigh of relief in the delivery room when a baby gives its first gasp.

10. Stott’s response • Scripture also speaks of ‘begetting’ us and of the implanted ‘seed’ • This is added to by the fact that in modern scientific understanding, there is no fundamental difference between the unborn and new born as both are equally dependent on the mother to survive.

11. Conception and humanity • A fertilised egg, can be regarded as human, because the life it possesses would be a human one. • Backed up with the outcome of the DC 1967 Abortion Conference. In which non-Christian Doctors stated ‘We can find no point in time between the union of sperm and egg and the birth of an infant at which point we can say that is not a human life.’

12. Sanctity or Quality of Life • Stott states that sanctity of life is no longer a key issue of the debate, but now quality of life. • A spina bifida sufferer spoke from her wheelchair ‘I can think of few concepts more terrifying than saying that certain people are better off dead and may therefore be killed for their own good.’ • No one can truly judge quality of life.

13. Finally, Life has intrinsic value. • Compared to a valuable painting. • My view on this is that, although the Scream and Mona Lisa may look different. • The Scream-frightening, disturbing etc. • The Mona Lisa- Beautiful • Both are equally special, and deserve the same respect and therefore protection.