Reading Karen’s post below, I was reminded of this question posed by Mary Rose Somarriba of First Things last week:
…many still find something troubling when they hear, as we did this past June, that a number of women who attempt to conceive through IVF choose to abort the very baby they tried to conceive. When we protect babies that are wanted by their mothers, but don’t protect those who are unwanted by their mothers, what do we do when a mother can’t make up her mind?
Categories: Childbearing
I know that this is a really simplistic answer to an incredibly complex question, but if we err, let’s do it on the side of life and not death.
I don’t understand why the circumstances of conception make any difference at all. If women have the right to choose, then they still have the right to choose in the case if IVF. If they don’t have the right to choose, then how the fetus was conceived, again, doesn’t matter.
Stephanie, if I said we should err on the side of liberty and not tyranny, I think you might not find it a useful contribution to the conversation. With all due respect, that’s sort of how I feel about “the side of life and not death.”
@ Ampersand
The post Elizabeth referred to asked the question what we do with mothers who can’t make up their minds. No matter what answer is given, someone will disagree. But wouldn’t it be better, if you are going to give an answer at all, to “err” on the side that doesn’t end the life of the baby rather to than abort it?