Today’s society, in most countries, is governed by the rule of law and democracy. The feminist movement, which emerged in the United States during the 1960s and 70s, sought equality and greater opportunities and freedom for women. This movement is often regarded as the “second wave” of feminism. The first wave, which began in the 19th and early 20th centuries, focused on legal rights, especially women’s right to vote. The second wave encompassed more practical aspects of women’s lives, including politics, employment, family, and sexuality. This was followed by the third and fourth waves from the mid-1990s and early 2010s, which led to extreme individualism and uninhibited ideologies.
One of the rights associated with sexual freedom is the right to an abortion! This right is now being addressed by feminist movements in many countries around the world, where abortion is seen as part of human rights. Representatives and elected officials who refuse this right to women, especially those seeking to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, are seen as discriminatory and in violation of human rights.
But what is abortion? Do women need to demand this right? Does the right to an abortion contradict the fetus’s right to life? Does feminism infringe on the right of a developing human being inside a woman’s body? And who has the authority to grant the right to an abortion?
What Is Abortion?
Abortion, in medical terms, refers to the termination of a pregnancy by removing or expelling an embryo or fetus from the uterus before it reaches viability. This act can be either intentional or accidental.
Historically, intentional abortion has been a highly controversial subject, involving complex issues of race, ethics, philosophy, biology, and law. Opinions on abortion are often a reflection of moral, social responsibility, individual liberty, and the role of government in public policy.
Debates about abortion have led to the legalization of abortion in many cases, as well as the implementation of laws regulating it. Generally, opponents argue that the embryo is a person with the right to life, making abortion akin to murder. Proponents, on the other hand, claim that women have reproductive rights, particularly the right to choose whether to carry a pregnancy to term.
The term “abortion” mainly refers to intentional procedures. Cases where the embryo or fetus is lost due to accidents or medical complications are referred to as miscarriages. Therefore, elective abortion, or voluntary abortion, occurs when a woman chooses to terminate a pregnancy without medical reasons. Miscarriages refer to the unintentional loss of an embryo or fetus before 20-22 weeks of gestation. If a fetus dies after this period or during childbirth, it is termed a stillbirth. Statistics show that approximately 73 million abortions occur globally each year, with 61% of cases resulting from unplanned pregnancies and 29% due to fetal abnormalities or medical reasons necessitating the termination of the pregnancy.
In certain cases, prenatal tests like ultrasounds, amniocentesis, and chorionic villus sampling can reveal conditions such as Trisomy 14, anencephaly, or other health risks to the mother. In cases of rape or incest, abortion may also be considered. These decisions are deeply challenging and require careful medical evaluation and spiritual guidance.
Reasons for Abortion
Common reasons for choosing abortion often relate to financial instability, where families cannot afford another child. Social pressures, such as single motherhood, career demands, continuing education, and dating or relationship challenges, also play a role. Additionally, political factors, such as population control policies like China’s one-child policy or Vietnam’s two-child policy (“Two is enough, boy or girl”), may influence the decision. Gender selection, where parents choose to abort based on the fetus’s sex, is another factor. Lastly, health risks to the mother can be a significant reason for abortion.
Studies show that:
- Rape or incest accounts for 0.4% of abortions
- Danger to the mother’s life or significant physical health risks account for 0.3%
- Other health-related issues for the woman account for 2.2%
- Fetal abnormalities or malformations account for 1.2%
- Elective abortions without specific reasons account for 95.9%
In summary, less than 5% of all abortions are due to medical or extraordinary reasons.
Society and Culture
Driven by feminist movements, abortion has become a prevalent issue in many countries, particularly in advanced democracies. Feminists argue that a woman’s choice to have an abortion is her right and should be respected without judgment or condemnation. In the U.S., abortion remains a hot topic in political elections.
Today, in many countries, abortion is no longer performed in secret; it is openly available and legally protected. Feminists often use the slogan “My body, my choice” to assert their autonomy, emphasizing reproductive rights, particularly the right to abortion. They see this as a foundational aspect of women’s progress.
A 2024 overview shows that while opinions on abortion have fluctuated over the past two decades, 63% of Americans believe abortion should be legal in all situations, while 36% believe it should be legal in most cases or under specific circumstances.
Among white evangelical Protestants, 73% believe abortion should be illegal in most cases. On the contrary, 86% of non-religious Americans believe abortion should be legal in most cases, as do 71% of Black Protestants, 64% of white non-evangelical Protestants, and 59% of Catholics.
On gender, both men (61%) and women (64%) show similar levels of support for the legality of abortion.
Consequences of Abortion
In principle, abortion should be carried out legally at certified medical facilities using safe techniques. However, unsafe abortions still occur, often performed by untrained individuals or outside healthcare facilities. Statistics reveal:
- Six out of ten unintended pregnancies end in abortion.
- When performed according to the medical guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), abortion is a safe procedure when done at appropriate times by trained professionals.
- However, approximately 45% of abortions worldwide are unsafe.
The Debate on Abortion
Throughout history, intentional abortion has been a topic of fierce debate, intersecting with issues of race, religion, ethics, philosophy, psychology, biology, medicine, and law.
In public and private discussions, arguments for and against abortion center around whether it is morally permissible to intentionally terminate a pregnancy, or whether laws should allow or restrict such actions. From a spiritual perspective, the Christian ethical viewpoint is particularly clear and significant.
Canon 1398 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church states: “A person who procures a completed abortion incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.” St. Pope John Paul II affirmed: “Therefore, by the authority which Christ conferred upon Peter and his successors, and in communion with all the bishops of the Catholic Church, I confirm that the direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human being is always gravely immoral. This doctrine is based upon the unwritten law which everyone knows in his or her own conscience, as affirmed by reason (cf. Rom 2:14-15), and is proclaimed by Sacred Scripture and maintained by the tradition of the Church.”
Thus, any Catholic who believes abortion is not immoral commits heresy and incurs automatic excommunication. Supporting abortion in any form, including promoting it, distributing abortion pills, advertising, supporting pro-abortion laws, or creating media that advocates for it, also constitutes grave sin and automatic excommunication.
Catholic politicians who help draft laws permitting abortion or publicly declare their support for abortion policies bear the same moral and canonical penalties. Likewise, those who vote for politicians who advocate for abortion are considered complicit and subject to excommunication. Such actions sever an individual from communion with the Church.
From a Buddhist perspective, abortion is viewed negatively and should be avoided. In Buddhism, life begins at conception, and terminating a pregnancy creates bad karma for both the mother and the fetus. The mother incurs bad karma for taking a life, especially her own child. The fetus loses the opportunity to be reborn as a human being.
From a reincarnation perspective, pregnancy is seen as sacred, and the birth of a human being is considered a rare and precious opportunity. Abortion creates negative karmic consequences, and those who procure abortions will face retribution in the afterlife according to Buddhist beliefs.
Who Gives the Right to Abortion?
Many pro-abortion advocates believe that the right to an abortion is constitutionally guaranteed, making it legal. However, on June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, returning the power to regulate abortion to individual states. This means that the citizens of each state will directly vote on abortion laws.
In this context, each individual must confront their conscience and carefully consider the reasons behind their decision to terminate an innocent life. They must ask themselves what justification they have for ending a life that they did not create, recognizing that life itself is a precious gift from God.
Parents who accept laws that permit them to kill their own children must ask themselves how they can reconcile their conscience. Even wild animals do not harm their own offspring. How can a mother or father justify their decision to abort? Can they stand before the Creator of life and claim, “My body, my choice”? Is that enough justification to destroy a life?
Personally, I don’t believe judges, lawmakers, or politicians who support and permit abortion will have sufficient reasons to defend their actions before the all-knowing Creator. The commandment “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13) remains a timeless moral law.
-Trần Mỹ Duyệt, PhD in Psychology-
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References
1.Wikipedia contributors. (2023, November 14). Abortion – Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion)
2. https://lozierinstitute.org/fact-sheet-reasons-for-abortion/
3. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/fact-sheet/public-opinion-on-abortion/
4. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abortion