There is no right to abortion

By Gudrun Kugler

The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is currently hearing a case which puts into jeopardy Ireland’s Constitutional Amendment protecting the unborn child beginning at conception. If the Court rules that the 25 year old Amendment, adopted by popular referendum, is not compatible with the ECHR’s concept of human rights, it would then establish a “right to abortion”. Such a judgment would have a resounding collateral effect throughout the Council of Europe’s 47 Member States, primarily in Poland, Ireland and Malta.*

Let us not give in to the dictates of a small and radical lobby! There is no right to abortion:

A “right to abortion” violates human rights:
→ Human rights are indivisible – they are not in conflict with each other: A human right does not violate another human right. The most basic human right, the right to life, would be violated if a “right to abortion” was introduced.

A “right to abortion” violates human beings:
→ A pregnant woman talks about “her child”, a family grieves the loss of an unwanted interrupted pregnancy; the fetus can legally be a victim of a crime such as feticide, a beneficiary of insurance or social assistance, or an inheritor of property. Who could grant a “right” to killing the youngest member of the human family?

A “right to abortion” violates equality:
→ Human rights are equal to all – but a „right to abortion“ is not: Clearly, some are “more equal than others”, namely those who get to abort the “less equal ones”.

A “right to abortion” destroys peace:
→ The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) states that the “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”: “All members of the human family” necessarily includes the unborn. Anything else testifies ideological blindness. Thus, a “right to abortion” destroys peace.

A “right to abortion” destroys the rule of law:
→ Human rights should be protected by the law. If the right to life is not protected, or if its very opposite even be enshrined as a “right”, how will one be able to trust a state or the international community? The rule of law will become the rule of arbitrariness, and personal safety dependent on political favour.

Thus: demanding a „right to abortion“ shows disregard and contempt for human rights!

Here some considerations to keep in mind.

→ No matter how the political debate phrases it: Abortion is the killing of a young human being with elbows, toes, a heart beat and a unique fingerprint.

→ No matter how quick the procedure is: It harms the soul of those involved. We care for souls, judgement is only God’s.
→ It should not be a surprise that a wave of resistance meets every critical remark made against abortion: Consider, that a great proportion of people have been involved in one or the other way. The abortion debate is one of the least honest debates.
→ No, it is not “uncool” to choose life: On the contrary, it testifies courage. It is a future-oriented approach to be applauded!

→ Happiness is what is sought regarding the decision whether to end a baby’s life: To choose abortion means to prefer an apparent good. Ending the life of an unborn child is a final decision. If one’s apprehension of the good changes – and normally it does with life experience – there is no way back. The meaning of life is the best pro-life argument: Is it a rat race for the pocket of someone else? What for? Let us question the premises.

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*Details (we thank the European Life Network for this summary):
International pro-abortion organisations are attempting to make abortion a universal human right. At present, a challenge is being brought against Ireland but all European countries that have laws giving protection to the unborn child are under threat.
The Irish constitution protects the right to life of the unborn, and the current ECHR case seeks to change this. If it is successful, countries throughout Europe will be affected. This case, known as “A, B and C v Ireland”, has been brought by three women at the instigation of the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA). The IFPA is affiliated to International Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the world. If the case is successful the effect could be similar to the Roe v Wade judgment in America which struck down all restrictive laws on abortion in the United States by recognising a right to abortion. The Irish Constitution says “The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.”
In effect the Irish Constitution is being put on trial and the principles of democracy are under threat. A decision by the Court would result in all member states of the Council of Europe being forced to review their laws.
This would include Poland and Malta, both of which recognise the rights of the unborn from conception.
For further details please watch the public hearing on September 12th, 2009: http://www.echr.coe.int/ECHR/EN/Header/Press/Multimedia/Webcasts+of+public+hearings/webcastEN_media?&p_url=20091209-1/en/ <http://www.echr.coe.int/ECHR/EN/Header/Press/Multimedia/Webcasts+of+public+hearings/webcastEN_media?&p_url=20091209-1/en/>