Under this caption we shall attempt to plead the cause of righteousness and show what abortion really is. Abortion is an outgrowth of immorality, a blight on society, and an octopus of evils encompassing the earth. Abortion is the taking of human life  it is murder. An older dictionary defines an "abortionist" as one who practices the crime of producing abortion. Like-wise, the Hippocratic Oath that has governed the medical profession says in part, "I will give no deadly drug to any . . . and especially, I will not aid a woman to procure abortion" (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1971). This oath given to young doctors was honorable. They would not commit the crime of abortion. Now, however, some medical schools have dropped this part of the oath, replacing it with, "I will do nothing that is illegal." Yes, it is sad that doctors would abandon such a noble oath to embrace barbarity.

This change followed the Supreme Court's 1973 decision to overturn a Texas law, in Roe versus Wade, where they determined that abortion was not a crime. The Supreme Court, who are interpreters of the law under the Constitution of the U.S., usurped the work of Congress by assuming the role of lawmaker. 1.5 million babies have died yearly since doctors have had the protection of this law. The abortionist is no longer considered a criminal, yet people have gone to jail for as little as killing a rat. If abortion was a crime before 1973, then it is still a crime, a crime against God and the nation.

What the Abortion Controversy is About and Not About

It is not about choice, not about rights, and not about a mother having control over her body; it is about what is right and what is wrong. Those who believe in the woman's right to choose do not know the difference. If they believe it is alright to kill an unborn baby, would they condone killing a three-month son or daughter? They talk about the welfare of the mother in connection with abortion. What a lie. There is nothing about abortion that brings welfare to a mother. To the contrary, it is devastating to both body and mind. Many have been coerced into abortion and made to believe it is a way out, a solution to the problem. It is, in fact, the beginning of sorrows that are well documented. Consider these few excerpts:

"I was told by Planned Parenthood that this little `blob of tissue' would be as easily removed as a wart. I was never told that I would have nightmares about babies crying in the night. Neither was it explained previous to the abortion that I would experience severe depressions in which I would contemplate suicide" (Congressional Record on p.S.10651).

Further, numerous studies reveal that women who have had an abortion experience a high incidence of depression, stress, low self-esteem, suicidal feelings and substance abuse (Report on the Committee on the Operation of the Abortion Law, 321. Ottawa, 1977).

"After 5-10 years, 54 percent of mothers choosing abortion had night-mares and 96 percent felt they had taken a human life."  from a study done by Anne Speckhard, University of Minnesota

Fetal Development

"By the end of the second week of pregnancy, there is a distinct embryo present. The fetus has a developing brain and a rudimentary heart. By the end of the third week of pregnancy, the fetus has the beginning of vertebrae, developing eyes and ears, a closed circulatory system (separate from the mother's), a working heart, the beginnings of lungs, and budding limbs. By the end of the fourth week of pregnancy, the fetus has the beginnings of vertebrae, developing eyes and ears, a closed circulatory, a working heart, lungs, a developing nose, and a pancreas" (Gray's Anatomy).

This is the beginning of a human being. Yet those who believe in the woman's right to choose disregard the fact that after only nine weeks, unborn babies can feel pain; yet 48 percent of all abortions are done after this point (U.S. Department of Health and Hu-man Services).

Concerning a scientific point of view, Dr. Matthews-Roth of Harvard University says, "It is scientifically correct to say that individual human life begins at conception." Addition-ally, from a respected source of information, "a new individual is created when the elements of a potent sperm merge with those of a fertile egg" (from an article on Pregnancy in the Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed., Vol. 14 968, 1974).

The Forming of an Infant is the Work of God

David tells us in Psalm 139:13-16: "Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb ... I am fearfully and wonder-fully made . . . My frame was not hidden from thee . . . Thine eyes did see my unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, even thedays that were ordained for me. When as yet there was none of them." God told Jeremiah "before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I ordained you" (1:5). But an an-gel told Zacharias that Elizabeth would bear a son that would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15). Now was the Holy Spirit to dwell in a lifeless being, or a living being? Verse 17 says "the babe leaped in the womb." A lifeless being cannot leap. Matthew 1:18 declares that Mary was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was the child and he was alive. In Romans 9:11 Paul speaks of Jacob and Esau as the children being not yet born. Before birth, they were called "children." As David reminds us: "It is He that made us and not we ourselves" (Psa. 100:3). For we are also his off-spring (Acts 17:28). Then we read the beautiful words of David in Psalm 127:3, "Lo children are an heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is His reward." Yet in open rebellion against our God and Father, this great truth is denied.

What Happens to Aborted Babies?

Unborn babies are alive, before and after birth. Thus, when the abortionist commits his crime of killing an unborn baby, the soul or spirit goes back to God, just the same as if he, or she, were of school age. Note what the Bible says:

There is a spirit within man ... (Job 32:8);

The Lord God formed the spirit within man (Zech. 12:1);

God is the Father of our spirits (Heb. 12:9);

And James tells us that the body apart from the spirit is dead (James 2:26);

The soul (spirit) is the only thing that man cannot kill (Matt. 10:28);

And just as John saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus (Rev. 20:4), having been killed after they lived and walked on the earth.

The aborted infants are killed not having walked on the earth. So, the soul being the part of man that does not die, the murdered infants are alive forevermore, being in a blessed state with the Lord!

Abortion is the largest uncontrolled industry in our nation. Most of the clinics are run in chains because it is so profitable. They are funded by big industry, welfare, and Medicaid pro-grams and so forth.

Sincere thanks to the Oregon Citizen 's Alliance for their large packet on abortion and also to Frieda Vanover for her computer research on the Internet.

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 13, p. 14-15
July 4, 1996