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Quote by: RickSp Who was it that said "the conservatives believe that rights begin at conception and end at birth"?
I have no issue with the assertion that life begins at conception. That is not at all the same thing as suggesting that individual rights as a sentient human being begin at conception.
Exactly when a fetus is sufficiently developed to be given consideration as an independent being is not clear cut. I generally agree with traditional Catholic teaching as articulated by St Augustine who suggested that abortion should not be regarded "as homicide, for there cannot be a living soul in a body that lacks sensation due to its not yet being formed." Abortion was allowed until the "quickening" at roughly 116 days, which happens to be roughly the first trimester, the period defined as allowable in Roe vs Wade. This was church policy for over 1500 years until the late 19th century. At least in this case I side with tradition.
Beyond the first trimester the issue becomes more difficult. After that point the life and health of the mother should certainly be given as much or more consideration than the fetus who is still entirely dependent on her. |
And now we know more than we did in Augustine's day. For example, we now know about brain birth, before which the fetus could not know sensation as an organism, although parts could react to stimuli. This puts the dividing line much closer to the third trimester. But although we now know more than in Augustine's day, many religious people, and their churches, seem to know less.