Abortion is Not a Choice

CEBU, Philippines - As though it would sound less sinful, people these days would rather call the act of aborting as “pro-choice.” Sin by any name is still sin and the mere expulsion of a fetus or embryo from the uterus is sin in itself.

It is because of complications during pregnancy that abortions are sometimes given justification. But the issue of abortion has gone beyond the issue of preserving the health of a pregnant female from complications. Abortion has now become an easy option for promiscuity. Abortion has become an easy option for economies that can’t seem to support a population because its governments are consumed with greed. Abortion has become an easy excuse for women who think their career must come first. Abortion has also gone beyond the issue of religion because no matter how religious a population can be, many of its women still commit abortion.

Abortion is not a demographic issue. It is not a political issue. It is not an economic issue nor is it a cultural issue. It is not an ethics issue. Abortion is a scriptural issue. It is offending that governments of the world, lawmakers and even religious denominations refuse to see the pro-choice or abortion issue in the light of Scripture.

Noah’s three-point directive.

After God destroyed the Earth with a great flood, He gave a three-point directive to Noah in Genesis 9: 1 “Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth.” God gave this directive in the context that He had destroyed the Earth with a flood after He saw the wickedness of the first men. Speaking to Moses thousands of years later in Exodus 20:13, God wrote in a slab of stone the Ten Commandments among which is “Thou shalt not kill.” In verse 14 of the same chapter, God specifically commands “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Since the Old Testament, God has never tolerated the killing of a fetus, embryo or a human being. Precisely why He forbids adultery so there would be no unwanted pregnancies.

The problem with 21st century man is that he justifies killing, justifies adultery and justifies abortion. He justifies the wickedness of the imagination of the heart. He justifies corruption and violence. One only has to look at how the media through television and cinema portray sex, promiscuity and adultery. How advertisements sell carnality and how movie genres justify violence.

President Barack Obama in a speech he delivered before a Catholic school commencement exercise had the temerity to support pro-choice or abortion issue. Actually he sounded confused about the whole thing. “Let’s provide care and support for women who do carry their children to term. Let’s honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion, and draft a sensible conscience clause, and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded not only in sound science, but also in clear ethics, as well as respect for the equality of women.”

What sensible conscience.

Abortion is therefore not a matter of choice. What sensible conscience does abortion have if the object is to kill? What health care policy is there if the woman’s body is corrupted? What sound science is there if instead of promoting life, what is promoted is death? What clear ethic is there when sin by any name is sin?

Most governments especially the Philippines justify abortion or population management and blame it on poverty. They say that to alleviate poverty, births must be controlled. But then the roots of poverty are corruption, greed and a people who have no ethical conscience for well-planned economies.

Before governments think of the choices of abortion, they must consider if they have made the choice about obeying basic scriptural issue or not. A choice in disobedience can make a difference in annihilating the seeds of humanity.