The idea that every abortion equates to a lfe lost does not add up. Women who have had an abortion are more than likely to have another child or more at a later date when they are better equipped to deal with him or her. As Kate has suggested mothers who are willing and able to care for their children make better parents and their children are the better for it. So what is preferable - having an unwanted and subsequently disadvantaged child earlier or another wanted and cherished at a later date?

I don't like abortion but can see that there is a very real need for the choice. I would like to see some encouragement from the Catholic church with regards to contraception to avoid the need in the first place. I agree with the author that the Church's position is more about power over women - a problem with religion generally - than about protecting human life.

I have read Kates article twice now. I found her reasoning strange and difficult. It appears to be either abbreviated or has serious gaps in it.

That said, I am personally convinced that

Any woman who is pregnant has the sovereign right to decide whether to continue with that pregnancy.

She may or may not feel the environment of nurturing is right, it really does not matter.

She may be sat in the lap of luxury or penniless on the streets, that does not matter either.

What does matter is, we are talking not only of a embryo / foetus we are talking about her, the mothers, own body.

Her own body, not mine or anyone elses but her body.

My body I decide how it will be deployed.

Her body, she decides how it will be deployed and if she is denied the right of choice, her existence, human value and individual rights are reduced to that of a life support system for a foetus.

Whatever decision the individual woman makes, to abort or not, is her decisions and responsibility for that decision, her burden to carry and carry alone.

To all and every Pro-Life supporter, the fact is this – it is not your body, nor your responsibility and not your circumstances to consider.
You will not bear the material or emotional burden of the decision, whatever it happens to be.
Thus, since you do not participate in the sharing the load and responsibility for that decision, you do not deserve to make the choice.

Hello? This is very simple and has been said before but, guess what? .... The baby is not your body!

We now know that the mother's immune system tries to evict the new life from the womb but, fortunately and marvellously, the new life created has an incredible way of overcoming this so that it continues to receive the support and nourishment from the mother.

If this debate is about "choice" then the only choice that counts is that of the child. The hard bit is that you must wait until some time after he or she is born for them to give an answer.

It's quite simple isn't it?

I would agree that a key component in all this is that of power. Unlike what Kate Mannix believes, the power being used and abused is that of the mother (with whatever support or lack thereof of the father or others) and the 'doctor' over the powerless little baby. He or she has managed to overcome the battle over the immunity system but has no weapons to fight the 'doctor' following the mother's instruction.

As those that do try to fight on behalf of these little people the Catholics should be commended!

Congratulations, Brougham. You have just inadvertently managed to give the 'foetus as parasite' argument in its most succinct form. I'd think about keeping quiet now, lest you convert any more waverers to the point of view you oppose.

Face Facts:

In an age of baby boomer and population problems we are wanting to kill some of the new babies coming into our society, when we need every last one of them.

Ask yourselves, how many first born children come along with parents fully prepared? some, but probably less than those that came as a surprise. Therefore go and take a pill to get rid of it? Bloody easy option, i might even slip one in my missus drink or food so she does not know. A pandoras box of possiblities.

It concerns me that Tony Abbott as a decision maker has his own past experiences, and this may cloud the issue either way.

Have you ever heard of the Garth Brooks song 'tonight i thank god, for unanwered prayers' ask them in ten tears if they should of aborted. Fear is what stops many things from happening in life, it is unfair to take the easy road out.

What about the fact that in a day, a week, a month, they cant take it back?

What about the fact that it will encourage young naive girls to have unprotected, drunk or vulnerable sex and know they have little consequences apart from a pill to take if it hits the proverbial fan?

To the detriment of society, we kill our offspring when we need them.

Selfish.

To so called pro-lifers (reality is some what diferent most of them support the death penalty).
If you don't like abortion don't have one it's as simple as that. Why are you pushing your minority views on the majority of us.

If you lot had your way we would still be using leachers.