Tonight the attempts to reduce the time limit for so-called ‘social abortions’ were defeated. The 22 week amendment lost by 304 to 233, the 20 week one 332 to 190, 16 weeks by 387 to 84 and 12 weeks by 393 to 71.
It is tragic that the attempt to reduce the limit from 24 weeks failed. One does not have to believe that life begins at conception to think that aborting a foetus after six months when the mother’s health is not in danger and there is no risk of a serious handicap is wrong. Even if only a small number of foetuses are viable at 24 weeks, then we should not accept them being aborted except in the most limited circumstances.
That several thousand people in this country have had four or more abortions says that, as a society, we have become far too contemptuous of the human essence of the unborn.
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