LifeLink: Abortion & “The Exceptions”

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August 2005

The abortion issue is often difficult to discuss in public because so much emotion is involved. Even Pro-Lifers dissent on some technicalities of the issues. Many people who care deeply for the unborn accept that abortion is permissible in the cases of rape, incest, a disabled child, or to preserve the life of the mother (“the exceptions”). While no more than 7% of all abortions in the United States are performed for one of these exceptions , we must examine these cases seriously. Justifying these exceptions may seem easy, but Texas Right to Life remains resolute in rejecting abortion as a permissible option in any circumstance. The following explains the Pro-Life response to these difficult questions. As always, we must be compassionate and non-judgmental, since, with over 46 million abortions since 1973, abortion has touched a great many lives.

Rape or Incest

Rape and incest are violent acts against women. A woman who has been raped truly is a victim. Although pregnancy from rape is extremely rare, it can happen. If the woman then chooses abortion, a second victim is tragically involved--the baby. According to several studies conducted across America, women who were encouraged to abort their baby in such circumstances thought that they had been put through a second act of violence--the violence and pain of the mechanical rape of abortion. Even more difficult was that they thought that they were being made the victimizer of their own child--that their baby had paid with his/her life for the crime of the rapist.

In contrast, women who were supported in their decision to carry their baby to term (whether they placed their child for adoption or decided to parent) thought that they had turned a horrible situation into a life-giving situation. It is vitally important to support both the mother and the child.

Disabled Child

All children should be welcomed into life, whether we see their lives as perfect or imperfect. Understandably, parents and family members can be dismayed to learn that a child will not be “the perfect child”. However, aborting a child with a disability or illness is the height of prejudice. We certainly cannot cure illness by killing the patient. The family who learns of their child’s disability will need great support and medical information--not the death of their most fragile member. We are in no position to determine whether someone ought to live or die based on their abilities or disabilities. We all have an innate worth and right to life.

Life of the Mother

Possibly the most difficult question is whether an abortion is acceptable to prevent the death of the mother. This “exception” seems to ask which is more important--the life of the mother or the life of the unborn baby. With current medical technology, rarely is the abortion of the unborn child necessary to save the mother’s life. Although many doctors or health care professionals may suggest or even pressure parents to do so, such drastic action against the child is rarely a medical necessity. Additionally, the life of an innocent person can never be intentionally taken, and every effort must be made to preserve and protect the lives of both patients.

1. Source: "An Overview of Abortion in the United States", Alan Guttmacher Institute, 2005