38 : COUNTERING THE ABORTIONIST ARGUMENT "MY BODY MY CHOICE"
We
often hear the "my body, my choice"
slogan in support of women's rights to abort pregnancy.
This argument may also be extended to cover their
claims for rights to adultery or other indecent
uses of their bodies. For now, let our discussion
confine to the issue of abortion. While religious
conservatives see a sin in abortion, the abortionists
argue that any decision about abortion should
be left to the concerned women. Because it is
their body, not of others, that will be affected
by this decision. An ideal position in this matter
may be as follows:
(i) The fear of producing an out-of-wedlock child
usually works as a preventive of adultery. However,
an absolute freedom with abortion to get rid of
such child will simply encourage this sexual misconduct.
Social disapproval of abortion should, therefore,
be in place as a measure against adultery and
murder of the unborn. Exception to this may apply
to particular cases where early stage abortion
is medically considered essential for the safety
of the mother, viewing one death as better than
two deaths.
(ii) The "my body" argument is not sound
enough to justify an injustice done to your own
body. You don't have the ability to create your
body; it is created by God through the media of
parents. By right of creation, He is the real
owner of your body which He has just rented to
your soul. You therefore do not have legitimate
right to harm your body against His will. For
the same reason, suicide is considered a sin across
most religions.
(iii) Abortion does not only concern the interest
of individual women. It also threatens the life
of social beings (fetus) that develop in their
womb. So the question of human rights abuse is
also linked with abortion.