Brendan – you say, “Moral argument seems incapable of resolving the seemingly intractable abortion law debate” but if we abandon moral argument all we have left is the brute force of numbers.

Indeed, you then indicate that you believe that might makes right when you say that the majority opinion ought to prevail.

Would you have used the same argument if you had lived in Alabama 200 years ago – let’s forget about morality, if most people want slavery, then we should allow slavery. Or if you had lived in Germany 80 years ago – let’s forget about morality, if most people want to get rid of the Jews, let’s get rid of the Jews.

Section 313 (2) of the Queensland Criminal Code which you cited, “Any person who unlawfully assaults a female pregnant with a child and destroys the life of, or does grievous bodily harm to....the child before its birth, commits a crime. Maximum penalty imprisonment for life" clearly shows the incredibly hypocritical nature of our society.

That section was added to the Code in 1997 after a man deliberately assaulted his pregnant girlfriend and killed their baby. So now, for killing a child in the womb without the mother’s permission a person can get life imprisonment, but if that exact same child is killed with the mother’s permission then the child can just be thrown in the rubbish.

And you want to abandon moral argument about this?

Three questions:
Why is it that conservative always think they have the silent majority on their sides?
Why is it religious people seem to be obsessed with abortion and porn, but are the biggest users of both?
Why are religious people so fond of covering up kiddie fiddling?

finally from the study the author cited at the start of their piece.
"Termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly (TOPFA) is a rare outcome of pregnancy and a principal element of fetal medicine."

I agree with the author that the Australian abortion laws should be tightened up and be comparable within all states.
There should be total freedom for women to choose abortion if they please, as any decisions involving their own bodies should be up to them.
All medical staff involved in abortions should be free from the current antiquated laws.

Late term abortions are very difficult to procure for any woman, as it is not something many doctors would agree to do except in very problematic situations.
I would say that late abortions after 20 weeks gestation are very rare except when there are foetal abnormalities or if there are severe mental or physical problems with the mother.
Any attempt to prove otherwise are lies from hysterical anti-choice proponents.

The division of gestation into trimesters is arbitrary and seems to be decreasingly relevant.

Foetus do not feel pain until ~23-24 weeks of gestation: until that stage there is an embryological structure dividing the brain from the spinal cord called the sub-cortical plate. It stops nerve transmission from the spinal cord to the brain.

Even after the sub-cortical plate disappears, probably through apoptosis (genetically programmed cell death), the degree of transmission of signals and foetal-brain cognition of them is poorly understood.

So I think we should be talking about pre mid-gestation abortion, and post mid-gestation abortion.

Most people are not pro-abortion per se. There are indications many abortions are sought after failed contraception.

The reasons for late-gestation abortion ought to be better clarified before we consider and discuss it further.

Why am I commenting on this thread?

It is because my probable Irish Catholic background gives me special insights into the hearts of men and their womenfolk.

I hold the moral high ground as God ordains.

After all, it is not a women's choice. Wiser minds than a women's consider and judge matters of a woman's womb.

Suck it up young lay lads of honored Priests.

After all, I'm the next Pope. Get used to it.

Mine is the Eminence. Amen.

Cardinal P---

Cardinal P--- ?? Cardinal Pant/s ?