Abortion has always been an emotive issue, and rightly so. I am a Christian and uphold the sanctity of life. However, I have never taken a view on whether abortion is ever right and if so, where I stand as far as the shades and spectrum of the issue is concerned. The issue of competing interests, indeed, of competing lives, is never an easy one. I have never asked myself what stand I should take. Now I am again confronted with this issue. Reason? Some of my church members are urging involvement to make the church’s stance clear, in view of the coming state election (in November). Some of our church members are involved in the state parliamentary prayer network and the Labour Party’s policy on abortion on demand has recently taken on some prominence. The issue seems to be that the Labour Party has apparently adopted a policy of enabling abortion on demand right up to birth. To me, the issue of segmenting pregnancy into three trimesters is a very artificial one. I dont know why this is relevant in looking at abortion. If terminating life is wrong, why does it matter when it is done? Who is to say when life begins? Simply, what is wrong with the view that life begins at conception and if so, and if abortion is wrong, it is wrong no matter when it happens, ie., first, second or third trimester. If it is defensible to terminate a pregnancy during the first trimester, and if life begins at conception, why is then not defensible to do so at the last trimester? So why is the issue of abortion “up to birth” relevant at all? Does formation of additional limbs or organs make life any more “present” or “real”? It is an endless debate. I have previously been unable to find anything on this issue in the Bible and so apart from the principle of sanctity of life, what biblical principles are there to guide us? I guess it is time to do some more research.

“So, I commend the enjoyment of life.” (From the Bible – really. Eccl 8:15)