Opposition to Contraception and Pregnancy Termination Is A Hypocritical And Inhumane Denial of Human Rights
By William Hanna, 29 May 2018. “Therefore We base Our words on the
first principles of a human and Christian doctrine of marriage when We are
obliged once more to declare that the direct interruption of the generative
process already begun and, above all, all direct abortion, even for therapeutic
reasons, are to be absolutely excluded as lawful means of regulating the number
of children. Equally to be condemned, as the magisterium of the Church has
affirmed on many occasions, is direct sterilisation, whether of the man or of
the woman, whether permanent or temporary.”
first principles of a human and Christian doctrine of marriage when We are
obliged once more to declare that the direct interruption of the generative
process already begun and, above all, all direct abortion, even for therapeutic
reasons, are to be absolutely excluded as lawful means of regulating the number
of children. Equally to be condemned, as the magisterium of the Church has
affirmed on many occasions, is direct sterilisation, whether of the man or of
the woman, whether permanent or temporary.”
Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae vitae (Of Human Life),
1968.
1968.
Unfortunately generalisations such as the one above do not
address the affective disorders, morbid addictions, and intricate social
realities that plague the lives of many people. Yet despite the Catholic
church’s position on contraception and abortion, Ireland recently voted by a
landslide to legalise abortion in what was a stunning result delivering a
dramatic defeat for the Catholic church’s one-time domination of the Republic.
While the Irish vote may be seen as a refreshing sign of progress for womens
rights, the reality is still quite different in many countries including the
U.S. where the administration of the sexist Donald “grab them by the pussy”
Trump is intent on rolling back women’s health care and family planning
services. https://bit.ly/2DPPgRt
address the affective disorders, morbid addictions, and intricate social
realities that plague the lives of many people. Yet despite the Catholic
church’s position on contraception and abortion, Ireland recently voted by a
landslide to legalise abortion in what was a stunning result delivering a
dramatic defeat for the Catholic church’s one-time domination of the Republic.
While the Irish vote may be seen as a refreshing sign of progress for womens
rights, the reality is still quite different in many countries including the
U.S. where the administration of the sexist Donald “grab them by the pussy”
Trump is intent on rolling back women’s health care and family planning
services. https://bit.ly/2DPPgRt
While anti-abortion activists — who at times resort to virulence
and violence — maintain that their opposition to abortion is due to concern for
the “sanctity of human life,” they have historically and hypocritically failed
to practice what they preach. How for example do they explain their lack of
concern over Nazi Germany’s Final Solution to the Jewish Question; their lack
of concern over the more than 20 million people in 37 “victim nations” who have
been killed by the U.S. since World War Two https://bit.ly/2ymNssN; their lack of concern over the genocidal barbarity currently
occurring in Yemen and Myanmar (Burma); their lack of concern over 70 years of
still ongoing ethnic cleansing in Palestine; and their lack of concern over the
11 million children who die every year mainly from preventable
causes https://bit.ly/2g0ftww. Does the “sanctity
of life” not apply to all these innocent victims? Are their lives not sacred,
holy, and precious? And what about the sanctity of a woman’s right to control
her own destiny?
and violence — maintain that their opposition to abortion is due to concern for
the “sanctity of human life,” they have historically and hypocritically failed
to practice what they preach. How for example do they explain their lack of
concern over Nazi Germany’s Final Solution to the Jewish Question; their lack
of concern over the more than 20 million people in 37 “victim nations” who have
been killed by the U.S. since World War Two https://bit.ly/2ymNssN; their lack of concern over the genocidal barbarity currently
occurring in Yemen and Myanmar (Burma); their lack of concern over 70 years of
still ongoing ethnic cleansing in Palestine; and their lack of concern over the
11 million children who die every year mainly from preventable
causes https://bit.ly/2g0ftww. Does the “sanctity
of life” not apply to all these innocent victims? Are their lives not sacred,
holy, and precious? And what about the sanctity of a woman’s right to control
her own destiny?
“Reproductive freedom is
critical to a whole range of issues. If we can’t take charge of this most
personal aspect of our lives, we can’t take care of anything. It should not be
seen as a privilege or as a benefit, but a fundamental human right.”
critical to a whole range of issues. If we can’t take charge of this most
personal aspect of our lives, we can’t take care of anything. It should not be
seen as a privilege or as a benefit, but a fundamental human right.”
Faye Wattleton, the first African American and youngest president ever elected to
the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Reproductive freedom has not always been subject to Catholic
opposition and not only did they not view early abortions as being abortions,
but many prominent Catholics saw nothing wrong with compiling lists of known
abortifacient herbs and the discovery of new ones. In her treatises, the 12th
century abbess and later saint Hidegard of Bingen https://bit.ly/1OLtKM8
recommended tansy as an effective abortifacient. In the 13th
century the physician and cleric Peter of Spain https://bit.ly/2IUM1a3 wrote a book called Thesaurus
Pauperum (literally Treasure of the Poor) containing a long list of
early-stage abortifacients, including rue, pennyroyal, and other mints. Peter
of Spain subsequently became Pope John XXI in 1276.
opposition and not only did they not view early abortions as being abortions,
but many prominent Catholics saw nothing wrong with compiling lists of known
abortifacient herbs and the discovery of new ones. In her treatises, the 12th
century abbess and later saint Hidegard of Bingen https://bit.ly/1OLtKM8
recommended tansy as an effective abortifacient. In the 13th
century the physician and cleric Peter of Spain https://bit.ly/2IUM1a3 wrote a book called Thesaurus
Pauperum (literally Treasure of the Poor) containing a long list of
early-stage abortifacients, including rue, pennyroyal, and other mints. Peter
of Spain subsequently became Pope John XXI in 1276.
Laws prohibiting abortions are a relatively recent development so
that even in the early Roman Catholic church, abortion was permitted for male
foetuses in the first 40 days of pregnancy and for female foetuses in the first
80-90 days. Apart from the question of how they were able to establish the
gender of foetuses without the benefit of ultrasound scans, there is also the
issue of gender discrimination as still practiced in some Asian countries
including India, the biggest “democracy.” in the world https://bit.ly/2skKVx6 .
that even in the early Roman Catholic church, abortion was permitted for male
foetuses in the first 40 days of pregnancy and for female foetuses in the first
80-90 days. Apart from the question of how they were able to establish the
gender of foetuses without the benefit of ultrasound scans, there is also the
issue of gender discrimination as still practiced in some Asian countries
including India, the biggest “democracy.” in the world https://bit.ly/2skKVx6 .
It was not until 1588 that Pope Sixtus V declared all
abortions were murder, with excommunication being the punishment. Three years
later, however, a new pope concluded that the absolute sanction was unworkable
and again allowed early abortions. Three hundred years then passed before the
Catholic church under Pius IX again declared all abortions as being murder.
This declaration of 1869, has since remained the official position of the
Catholic church.
abortions were murder, with excommunication being the punishment. Three years
later, however, a new pope concluded that the absolute sanction was unworkable
and again allowed early abortions. Three hundred years then passed before the
Catholic church under Pius IX again declared all abortions as being murder.
This declaration of 1869, has since remained the official position of the
Catholic church.
In 1920 the Soviet Union became the first modern state to formally
legalise abortion with the procedure being readily available in state operated
facilities during the early period following the 1917 revolution. These
facilities were, however, eventually closed and abortion made illegal when it
became apparent that the Soviet Union would have to defend itself against Nazi
Germany. After World War Two, when women were being encouraged to enter
the labor force, abortion was once again made legal.
legalise abortion with the procedure being readily available in state operated
facilities during the early period following the 1917 revolution. These
facilities were, however, eventually closed and abortion made illegal when it
became apparent that the Soviet Union would have to defend itself against Nazi
Germany. After World War Two, when women were being encouraged to enter
the labor force, abortion was once again made legal.
Such examples illustrate the fact that abortion legislation can be
determined by economic and military necessity, the requirement for cheap
labour, and the drive to promote consumerism. The legal history of many
countries on the question of abortion including the U.S. is a testament to the
reality that it is men, and not women, who define “morality” with regards to
abortion. Pressure for reform in the U.S led to 14 states in1973 liberalising
their existing abortion laws, and the US Supreme Court finally ruled that that
a state law banning abortions except to save the life of the mother was
unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment https://bit.ly/2DtiMIH
determined by economic and military necessity, the requirement for cheap
labour, and the drive to promote consumerism. The legal history of many
countries on the question of abortion including the U.S. is a testament to the
reality that it is men, and not women, who define “morality” with regards to
abortion. Pressure for reform in the U.S led to 14 states in1973 liberalising
their existing abortion laws, and the US Supreme Court finally ruled that that
a state law banning abortions except to save the life of the mother was
unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment https://bit.ly/2DtiMIH
.Despite that landmark Supreme Court ruling, efforts to deny women
the right to choose are once again being championed by men — who despite new
laws and new attitudes toward women and abortion — still define and dominate the
decision making process regarding a woman’s right to have an abortion as is
evident from a recently passed bill in Mississippi https://bit.ly/2GxoETI.
the right to choose are once again being championed by men — who despite new
laws and new attitudes toward women and abortion — still define and dominate the
decision making process regarding a woman’s right to have an abortion as is
evident from a recently passed bill in Mississippi https://bit.ly/2GxoETI.
“I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over
themselves.”
themselves.”
Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.
William Hanna is a freelance writer with published books the Hiramic
Brotherhood of the Third Temple, The Tragedy of Palestine and its Children, and Hiramic
Brotherhood: Ezekiel’s Temple Prophesy which has also been
published Chinese, French, German, and Portuguese, and is due for publication
in Arabic, Italian,, Russian, and Spanish. Books and purchase
information, sample chapters, reviews, other articles, videos, and contact
details at:
Brotherhood of the Third Temple, The Tragedy of Palestine and its Children, and Hiramic
Brotherhood: Ezekiel’s Temple Prophesy which has also been
published Chinese, French, German, and Portuguese, and is due for publication
in Arabic, Italian,, Russian, and Spanish. Books and purchase
information, sample chapters, reviews, other articles, videos, and contact
details at:
