I really think most of the long term pro-abortionists have become so politically and activist minded that they have lost the real plot. That of obeying God. Above all else, before everything else in this lukewarm ungodly age is Gods pre-existing Commandment "Thou shall not kill". Lets obey that Commandment and not look for doors through which to abort the child. Lets not make it easy, in any way, to kill an unborn. I understand all of the circumstances that can happen to a woman but most of what is being said is hype, slant, theory (RC conspiracy as well), hypothesis etc.
I would completely and lovingly admire and respect any woman, though raped, went ahead and had the child anyway. Thats true love for ALL life.

@Gibo

"Pro-abortionist"? That would mean someone who supports compulsory abortion under all cases.

WRT to the rest of your comments, do you want to look after the children with anencephaly?

Put your action where your words are.

The author states 'the pro-life lobby hopes to harness public support in chipping away abortion rights'. Mary questions the motives of those opposing abortion and yet speaks of 'abortion rights'. Surely she means feminist rights which seem to imply that no matter how murderous the act that feminist rights must not be chipped away at. I am one who has little time for the Catholic church but see at least they stand against this hideous crime. For me it is all about the babies (the most vulnerable in society). For her it seems to be about 'feminist rights'.

Gibo, your response is so couched in superstition it's not worthy of a response. Perhaps if you spent more time considering morality from a common sense point of view instead of spouting about witchcraft and demons, you might learn somethnig.

runner - you've not addressed anything in the article except provide more of the empty rhetoric it describes.

Answer me these:

1) Are you opposed to all forms of contraception? Do you agree with their labelling of the pill as an abortifacient?

2) What of the fact that 90 per cent of abortions are in the first trimester? Do you still persist in calling these lumps of cells 'babies'? is a group of eight cells held together by a membrane a child?

3) What of cases of anencephaly? Would you accept abortion there? What about cases when the mother's life is in danger? At what point is the risk allowable for an abortion? 100 per cent? 99 per cent?

4) What about Sancho's point? If we found away to save the 25 to 50 per cent of fertilised ova spontaneously aborted? Would women then be forced to save these ova?

5) would you prefer a situation like the Phillipines in Australia?

Although it sounds like I'm stridently against pro-lifers, the truth of the matter is that I'm just anti-anyone who tries to paint complex issues as black or white.
You can scream about feminist rights all you want, it's entirely beside the point. Accept that this isn't a black or white situation and consider the other side of the debate, for just a moment.

It's not about babies at all. If that were the case, wouldn't the pro-lifers be helping out single mothers, trying to improve their welfare benefit, healthcare for children in poverty, etc.? Yet that is not what we see. I think the opposition to the HPV vaccination makes it very clear that what really gets their goat is the thought that some women might be having sex and enjoying it, unpunished. The pro-lifers would like to create a world where women are afraid of having sex.

Gibo “That of obeying God.”

That would depend on whose God you choose.

Many folk follow the teachings of the Church of Rome.
Others prefer something a little more Christian.

Myself, I believe in God but you would not see me enter many supposed Churches, those who think they are exclusive or special or pretend to represent something not open to all mankind.

My God gave me freewill to decide for myself and will balance up the merit of my existence when I reach my judgement day.
He did not make me subservient to some bishop or Pope’s whim.
He does not expect me to kneel at the image of saints or virgin Marys or flay myself to prove worthiness in his eyes.

I believe my God will measure me based on my compassion, tolerance to others and my ethicacy.

I respect the Salvation Army folk who tend to the drunks and destitute, demonstrating their faith through selfless acts of kindness, without judging the merit of the recipients of their efforts. They have far more to offer everyone than some papist or prolifer demanding we all bow down before their brand of theological claptrap.

Despisis “I do find your 'right of choice' mantra interesting in light of your views on drugs.”

Simple, a woman having an abortion is exercising rights over her own body (the embryo having no separate identity) and having no impact on the freedoms or rights of other people.

The issue with drugs is not simply the effect of the user but the debilitating effects which widespread addiction would have on the wider society. The issue with drug dealers is they profit through trading in and promoting the certain misery of addicts.

“if there had a screw up with your vasectomy that resulted in an unwanted pregnancy, would there have been the possibility of an abortion?”

There is always a possibility but in hindsight, it is not a likely probability but dealing with hypothetical’s never produces absolutes.