Is Partial-Birth Abortion Moral?
Introduction The practice of abortion was widespread in ancient times as a method of birth control. Later it was restricted or forbidden by most world religions, but it was not considered an offense in secular law until the 19th century. During that century, first the English Parliament and then American state legislatures prohibited induced abortion to protect women from surgical procedures that were at the time unsafe, commonly stipulating a threat to the woman’s life as the sole exception to the prohibition. Occasionally the exception was enlarged to include danger to the mother’s health as well. Religious Point of View In all three of the world’s major religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism, abortion is not permitted. These religions advocate that abortion can only take place if there is a threat to the life of the mother. Another stipulation entails that after three months of pregnancy abortion can not take place, for after that time period the fetus is given life. In a passag
