Abortion
The key to speaking clearly and with compassion on abortion is to have a firm grasp of what is at stake. Abortion is not a morally complex issue. Yes, it is often emotionally complex to those involved. Yes, there is much ignorance about what abortion is and what it does. But the moral facts are not difficult to learn. Here are a few ways to get informed quickly and comprehensively.
For an excellent, concise yet comprehensive primer on presenting and defending the pro-life position, see the National Campus Life Network's resource "A Right to Know."
http://www.ncln.ca/content/pdf/Right%20to%20Know.pdf
Here is a related article by pro-life apologist Scott Klusendorf on presenting the pro-life position in 5 minutes.
http://prolifetraining.com/Articles/FiveMinute1.htm
These are certainly not comprehensive treatments, but they do provide a simple way to grasp the basic pro-life position as well as how to handle the objections made against it. As such, they can also be a strong boost to one's confidence to speak on the issue.
For easy to access Canadian info on abortion facts, stats, history, funding and methods, see: www.abortionincanada.ca
Here's a resource that briefly outlines that Church's consistent teaching on abortion through the centuries: http://www.usccb.org/prolife/constantchurchteaching.shtml
Finally, here's a link directly to the most recent Stats Can info on abortion in Canada: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/bsolc/olc-cel/olc-cel?catno=82-223-X&lang=eng
A Word on Pre-Natal Screening and Genetic Counseling
It's important that you also have a general knowledge of the kinds of pre-natal tests that pregnant mothers may be offered, like the Triple Screen, CVS or Amniocentesis. Unfortunately, such tests can lead mothers to choose to "terminate the pregnancy" (i.e. have an abortion) due to a diagnosis of Down syndrome, spina bifida, or other genetic disability.
For an overview of the various pre-natal tests visit:
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/pregnancy/Prenatal-Testing.aspx?articleID=6855&categoryID=PG-nh2-04g or http://www.americanpregnancy.org/prenataltesting/
The Basic Facts on Abortion in Canada
What is the current law in Canada?
Before 1969, the law permitted abortion only when necessary to save the life of the mother. The law was amended on May 14, 1969 under the Trudeau government to allow abortion in cases where "the continuation of pregnancy… would be likely to endanger the life or health of the mother." The word "health" was not defined. Abortions were to be performed in accredited hospitals with the approval of a therapeutic abortion committee of three doctors. On January 28 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the 1969 law on the basis of "unequal access" to Therapeutic Abortion Committees across Canada.
So Canada is, in fact, one of the only countries in the world currently without an abortion law at all!
Abortion is therefore available on-demand through all nine months of pregnancy up to the moment of delivery for any reason or no reason at all including sex selection, possible genetic defects, and as a simple back up to failed contraception.
The Criminal Code of Canada states:
"A child becomes a human being within the meaning of this Act when it has completely proceeded, in a living state, from the body of its mother, whether or not
a) it has breathed;
b) it has independent circulation; or
c) the navel string is severed."
Criminal Code Book of Canada R.S., cC-34, s.205
For a more detailed timeline of the history of abortion in Canada, visit:
http://www.abortionincanada.ca/history/Abortion_Canada_Timeline.html
How are abortions performed?
See: http://righttolifetoronto.org/index.php?id=75
For descriptions of each procedure visit: www.pregnancycenters.org
For professional medical diagrams of the surgical procedures:
Suction and Curettage Abortion of a 9-week Fetus
Dilation and Evacuation Abortion of a 23-week Fetus
How many therapeutic abortions are performed in Canada?
In 2005, the latest year for which statistics are available, 97,254 abortions were reported. Clinics and hospitals are not obliged to report abortions to Stats Canada. Therefore, it is unclear how accurate the 2005 figure is.
That's 266 abortions a day or 11 every hour.
There have been almost 3 000 000 abortions in Canada since the Trudeau government legalized abortion in 1969.
Church Documents and Teaching
Evangelium Vitae: On the Value and Inviolability of Human Life, Pope John Paul II, 1995 http://www.usccb.org/prolife/tdocs/evangel/evangeli.shtml
Priests for Life Canada Evangelium Vitae six-week study guide online.
http://www.priestsforlifecanada.com/English/Resources/Study_Guides/
evangelium_vitae_study_guide.php
Humanae Vitae: On the Regulation of Birth, Pope Paul VI, 1968 http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html
Fr. Tom Lynch, National Director of Priests for Life Canada provides an overview of Humanae Vitae (Video, 47 minutes plus Q & A).
Declaration on Procured Abortion, Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 1974 http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/abortion/DeclarationonProcuredAbortion.pdf
Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2270-2275 http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a5.htm
Quotes:
"Human life must be respected and, protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person - among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life" (CCC, #2270).
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you" (Jer 1:5; cf. Job 10:8-12; Ps 22:10-11).
"Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law" (CCC, #2271).
"You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish" (Didache 2, 2:S, Ch 248, 148; cf. Ep. Barnabae 19, 5:PG 2 777; Ad Diognetum 5, 6:PG 2, 1173; Tertullian, Apol. 9:PL 1,319-320).
"God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes" (75 GS 51 § 3).
"I declare that direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, always constitutes a grave moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being" (EV, #62).
"…the direct interruption of the generative process already begun, and, above all, all direct abortion, even if for therapeutic reasons, are to be absolutely excluded as lawful means of regulating the number of children" (HV, #14).
"From man in regard to his fellowman I will demand an accounting for human life" (Gen. 9:5). Human life is sacred and inviolable" (EV, #52).
"If we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? …Helping mothers and babies in crisis is first in the mind of God right now" (Mother Teresa, National Prayer Breakfast, Washington DC, Feb. 3, 1994).
