Do You Agree With Rees-Mogg That Abortion Even After A Woman Has Been Raped Is Morally Indefensible?

[sp1814]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jacob-rees-mogg-abortion-oppose-pro-life-catholic-conservative-mp-tory-woman-raped-leader-a7931651.html

I can understand why he believes this as he was brought up as a strict Catholic ("life is life"), but I can't agree with him - even the morning after pill would be a no no to him.

How do you feel?

[Khandro]

zebo;//He probably has scuppered his chances of becoming leader, the public prefer someone who says the 'right thing'//

Please see my link 14:12 Wed.

[gulliver1]

MIKEY, 09.47, Theresa May is a catholic " farther up the candle".
LOL.

[ummmm]

I think he's wrong.

I have 3 children...2 of them unplanned. It happens. Luckily I was in a position to be able to support them. If having a child would throw me into poverty I wouldn't it. I was brought up a Catholic.

[anneasquith]

"" further up the candle "" is that an English thing ? :-)

[NellieMay]

I don't agree with him, but I like him. Much the same as I don't agree with a lot of people on some issues, but I still like them and respect their views. Religions beliefs should play no part in politics in my opinion and I don't think religious leaders should have any say whatsoever,but unfortunately they do.

[andy-hughes]

ummmm - //I have 3 children...2 of them unplanned. It happens. Luckily I was in a position to be able to support them. If having a child would throw me into poverty I wouldn't it. I was brought up a Catholic. //

Your post underlines my point - only the woman involved can judge if she is capable of looking after a baby if she has one - it has to be her choice.

[Ellipsis]

> only the woman involved can judge if she is capable of looking after a baby if she has one - it has to be her choice.

What if she judges this after more than 24 weeks of conception - is it still then her choice?

[Ellipsis]

*since* conception ... !!!

[Garaman]

I am not at all happy with the idea that a woman can just abort a child without the father having any say. It is his baby too. There are cases where the father shouldn't have any right to a say, like in the case of rape, but in the majority of cases he should.

[andy-hughes]

Ellipsis - //What if she judges this after more than 24 weeks of conception - is it still then her choice? //

I think that the whole concept of abortion is riddled with deeply troubling aspects of morality and accountability, but I still believe that no woman should be made to carry and deliver a baby against her will.

[andy-hughes]

Garaman - //I am not at all happy with the idea that a woman can just abort a child without the father having any say. It is his baby too. There are cases where the father shouldn't have any right to a say, like in the case of rape, but in the majority of cases he should. //

As I said in my previous post, the complexities involved are many and varied, and unique to each circumstance, but the final decision has to rest with the mother - to do otherwise removes a fundamaental right, and that cannot be acceptable.

[Garaman]

I disagree with you, Andy, you should have got that from my post.

[andy-hughes]

Garaman - // I disagree with you, Andy, you should have got that from my post. //

In that case, do I understand your position to be that, if the father wants to keep the baby, then the mother must be compelled to carry it to term, deliver it, and then hand it over to him?

That does not make her a mother or a person, it makes her a human incubator. If that is your view, then yes, we disagree.

[Garaman]

My position is what I said it was, Andy, thanks but I will write my own posts.

[andy-hughes]

Garaman - //My position is what I said it was, Andy, thanks but I will write my own posts. //

I am not trying to write your posts for you, I am trying to clarify your view, which I feel is not entirely clear from the post I queried.

If you don't wish to elaborate, that's fine, but that does not mean I am trying to put words in your mouth.

[Garaman]

Andy, my post at 13:24 should make my position clear enough for anyone.

[andy-hughes]

Garaman - // Andy, my post at 13:24 should make my position clear enough for anyone. //

It makes it clear that you believe that if a father wants the baby to be born, then the mother should be compelled, even against her wishes, to carry the baby to term and deliver it.

If I am wrong in that assumption then please avail yourself of my invitation to elaborate on your view.

If not, then yes, we disagree.

I cannot see how it is right that any man can compel any woman to deliver a baby when she does not want to do so.

[Garaman]

Not 'any man', Andy, just the father of the baby, it is after all his baby too.

[Ellipsis]

> [even after more than 24 weeks] I still believe that no woman should be made to carry and deliver a baby against her will

OK, then you advocate illegal abortion. Very dodgy. 24 weeks is deemed to be the borderline of "viable", i.e. that baby is alive and could survive outside of the mother. Abortion in such circumstances is not much different to killing the baby after it has been born.

I'm simply trying to make the point that it is not ALL and SOLELY the mother's choice, at least not legally. The legal framework in which she makes her choice is set by society, and a Prime Minister that was so hard line on abortion could be problematic because, for example, you might find pressure from him to bring down the 24 weeks to something much less.

[scooping]

Should have added that tomorrow's front page of the Guardian/Mirror should read : "Christians in favour of Christ shock".