I’m not so sure. There appears to be reasons they find it acceptable and I’m open to hearing those reasons. As the poster said a victim of rape was ‘punished’, it would help if they had elaborated on that punishment specifically. I feel that is only one example of acceptable ‘reasons’ and would like to hear other reasons, with explanations. For example, is it acceptable for an unwed woman? Is it acceptable for financial reasons?
Most people who would allow for abortion in a case of rape would not consider that to be “birth control”. That implies that it is seen as quite casual, and as having little import - that it is no different than choosing not to get pregnant in the first place. I really can’t think of any Christian groups who would say that.
You would likely find Christians in general fall into a few groups as far as abortion goes.
Many would say it was only ever acceptable in the case of a real life threat to the mother, in which case it is up to the mother to make the decision about what to do. THis is probably the largest group from the perspective of Protestant groups. The reasoning is that it is similar to someone who is drowning grasping on to you, and so causing you to drown. Not a good situation, but it
may be justifiable to strike the person to prevent yourself from being dragged under, even if it means the other person drowns. And generally only the person being grabbed is in a position to make the decision.
Some people would add that in the case of rape it is also up to the mother, but I don’t really know of any groups that argue this, just individuals who belong to a group with a more or less strict interpretation. I think this is partly because they are not seen as having been responsible for being pregnant, and partly out of a kind of charity. It seems cruel to make someone carry the child of someone who raped her, and to remind her of the incident for so long. It almost seems like the pregnancy is a way for the rapist to continue to violate her body. And I think in cases where there was abuse by a relative, the incest taboo makes the whole thing seem tainted - not so much intellectually but at the level of the gut.
Some groups seem to leave it very much open to individual conscience. However, they are usually not enthusiastic about abortion even then - but seem to take the view that only at the individual level can one make evaluation of the circumstances. Even such groups as this generally affirm the sanctity of life, so that is meant to be taken into account by individuals contemplating abortion. So these groups would want the reason to be “serious” but leave it up to the person involved to decide what that means. I think the idea is that only that person is in a position to really understand the situation.
Occasionally I have met people whose group sees the soul appearing later on, and so sees very early abortion as acceptable. (A similar view was common in the past too when less was known about the process of conception - so of course it wasn’t really considered an abortion, just “bringing on menstruation”.)
I find some groups have an almost incomprehensible view, the Episcopal Church being one of these. Their various statements seem to make little sense, but they seem to support the availability of abortion in any case. Essentially they fall under the individual conscience idea I guess.
Go in peace, Carlan
“For the sake of His sorrowful passion have mercy on us and on the whole world”. Amen
)Peace, Carlan