Abortion debate rages on

The issue of abortion has generated fervent debate in society with the arguments going back and forth in letters to the Editor from people and groups divided along pro-choice and pro-life lines. Sheila Briggs, who teaches theology and the history of theology at the University of Southern California and a member of Catholics for free choice, which was formed in 1973 after the Roe vs Wade legalised abortion in the US, was invited by the group ASPIRE to speak on “Religion and Women’s Reproductive Choices” at Public Forums hosted by the group. She provided insight from the perspective of someone who is both Catholic and pro-choice proponent. In an interview with Newsday she gave her views on various issues in the abortion debate.

Abortion kills babies?

This has been the major argument of the anti-abortion movement. However, Briggs disagreed saying that a fertilised egg does not mean there is a human being since in terms of biological complexity it is the same as any other fertilised egg in the animal kingdom. “For human life what is essential is a functioning brain, without brain activity there is no intelligence, no sensation.” This is why CFFC is against late termination of pregnancy abortion—-except in grave circumstances. The presence of a soul is another argument used against abortion, but Briggs said  the writings of St Augustine and St Thomas Aquinas, showed that they did not believe the foetus in its early stages had a human soul or make-up of a “rationale soul.” Briggs said the Church will not argue that a soul is present from the moment of conception because of the high rate of natural abortion. Only one-third of the fertilised eggs grow to full term. “We all recognise that a person is not simply a genetic blueprint.  It is how they develop.” Briggs said environment also plays a role in how the brain develops.

Unwanted pregnancies equal abortion

The main cause of abortions is unwanted pregnancy and these occur mainly in women who lack freedom over their sexuality and fertility. Not enough access to contraceptives and absence of proper sex education in schools were also  named by Briggs as factors contributing to abortion. “Women are not fully aware of their choices, then they find themselves in situations where they become pregnant. This is a basic moral evil that places women in a situation of unwanted pregnancy,” Briggs said at a public lecture last Monday at City Hall. Speaking with Sunday Newsday on Wednesday she said women with higher levels of education who can economically support them and their families are less likely to have an abortion. Those with less education are “unable to control their own fertility and sexuality and give in to the demands of their partner irrespective of their well being.” Briggs said even in countries where there is gender equity there are still women without control. Socio-economic development has facilitated the expansion of women’s rights but this has to be accompanied by spiritual development and values.

She admitted that making men accountable for fathering children they do not want to maintain is very difficult since laws cannot  make men caring fathers. Briggs cited the United Kingdom Child Support Act which was passed a few years ago. While modern technology has made it possible to determine paternity and track down errant fathers, the law has been only partially successful. “The best long term hope is for women to postpone pregnancy until they are in a situation, relationship where they are confident they have support to bring up their child.” Briggs said it is an uphill battle changing the attitudes of some men to parenthood, and getting them to understand fatherhood is an active parenting role which means taking care of children on an equal basis with a female partner.

Abortion as contraceptive

Commenting on the use of abortion as a form of contraception, Briggs said this is already taking place. She cited statistics from Advocates for Safe Parenthood Improving Reproductive Equity (ASPIRE) which showed that 4,000 women were admitted to local hospitals due to unsafe abortions. Taking into consideration unreported cases, she said this figure represents 20 percent of the actual number of women having abortions. “Twenty thousand a year is equal to the number of live births in TT.” She disagreed with using abortion as contraceptive. “ASPIRE is not just pressing for the decriminalisation of abortion but also for good contraceptive education and sex education in schools so women will see there are alternatives to abortion.” When women believe there is no other choice abortion is used as birth control.

Although the argument has been put forward that abortion kills the possibility of having an Einstein or Beethoven, Briggs said this is hardly likely. She referred to a study done many years ago in Czechoslovakia using official data from the Communist era. Women during this period had to get permission from the authorities to have an abortion. The children of those women who were denied abortions had higher levels of criminality, did poorly in education, and relationships.  “They did badly compared with the general population and even compared with other siblings in their family.”

Moral responsibility

Briggs said there is a big difference between how a woman in her 30’s and 40’s and adolescent will deal with abortion since their moral capacity to deal with the issue is different. She said unwanted pregnancies among teens occur because they lack good sexual education. “This doesn’t mean just biology, but also the social and emotional context of a pregnancy.” The most vulnerable young women are those in situations where their parents are unable to talk about sex and give them proper guidance. If sex is discussed, it is  “in a general sense that it is bad.” Catholics for Free Choice (CFFC) are against teens being forced to have abortions. “This practice is prevalent in Catholic upper-middle class families...it is confusing for teens because abortion is called a great sin, until she gets pregnant and they march her to the clinic to have an abortion. In such circumstances it is difficult for a woman to develop a moral capacity.”

Briggs said when a woman is denied choice she is not given the chance to take responsibility for her action. She reported that the incidence of repeat abortions is “relatively rare” in young women who receive  counselling. On the other side are women forced to carry babies to full term but are forced to put them up for adoption. Briggs said many women have lifelong regrets when they are forced to give up a child. She said even young women when they receive counselling can decide what is best for her baby. “Their moral capacity is stunted when they are now allowed to make a choice.”