There's no question that the morality
of abortion is an issue that will divide people.

Whether a person is prochoice or prolife,
it's a private matter - that should remain private.
I imagine that the decision, one way or the other
is one of the most difficult
that any one has to make.

However I agree with CJ and Fractelle,
that this thread is a provocation -
an attempt to get people to react

Graham's right of course. Abortion is a very salient issue to a significant minority, and those who are obsessed by its availability to others have every right to raise it as an issue in a free speech forum on a monthly basis - around full moon might be an appropriate time, IMHO.

He's right also in identifying the OP as an essentially intra-Christian issue. Quite so, and I look forward to reading some Christian defences of women's choice.

Which makes it all the more interesting is that KMB professes not to be a Christian, yet s/he posts on what is essentially an internal ethical issue of a Christian church. Incidentally, I didn't suggest that KMB is a godbotherer - rather that his/her OP is troll bait for them.

Bronwyn, Romany, Fractelle, Sancho, Foxy, Maxi - same old same old... I won't be returning to this thread unless somebody posts a new idea that hasn't already been done to death here.

Forrest - what can I say? You're a delight to read :)

Foxy,
What's private about abortion?
Victoria recently legalised abortion effectively up to term.
The law is partially a response to the abortion at 32 weeks (8 months) of a child (my child was born perfectly healthy at 33 weeks) at Melbourne's Royal Women's Hospital in (circa) 2000.
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s218675.htm
The fact that infanticide occurs in Australia and is, furthermore, publicly funded is a private matter?
Or are we to engage in some form of sophistry which denies that this is infanticide?
It's interesting to note that pro-choice compassion extends only towards the one who has to make such a difficult decision to terminate their 8 month old child and never to the child itself.

So,CJM, in your opinion,.."Do we want one?
It's a mine-field, with seriously entrenched positions on both sides, and little chance of changing anyone's outlook. Still, this IS a Forum, so I suppose it's open to debate, the same as almost anything else.
I'm Pro."....is "same old/same old".?
Glad to see your so special we need to worry whether you deign to speak to us. Oh Great Panjandrum, please grant us your wisdom, I won't dare speak, honest!
Gimme a break!

Maximillion - I was only speaking for myself. If you want to go over the same tired old ground that's been done to death on OLO for years, go for it.

There's about a squillion anti-abortionists and/or godbotherers here who'll be only too delighted to accommodate you.

Personally, I'm with Graham on this - we need some new, interesting topics rather than kicking around the same old crap that doesn't alter anybody's perspective.

How dare anyone speak to the Rord Dymo, Thlead Laberrer in Chief of ORO rike that thought Fyolestt-san. Not porite!

In one indistiguishable combination of fruidities, the body-ranguage of the Samurai barery gave warning of what was about to occur. The katana emerged into the night air from its scabbard with a barery distinguishable fricker on the backstloke, and in one refrexive forward movement bisected the body of Mexico's Rex, Lux, Dux, Maximillion, light at the neck.

"You missed me" quoth MexiMaximirrion, feeling nothing with the passage of the brade.

"Leckon?" asked the Samurai, pelemptorily. "Shake your head if you think so!"

MexiMaximirrion did as charrenged. After a brief pecuriar quiver, his head teetered for an instant, then ferr with a thud to the ground.

Tenchu!

Orr that was reft to terr of the incident was the hiss of brud from the now headress torso, which srowry rost its barance and ferr to the glound.

You wirr be porite on ORO or errse!