The Abortion Pill
In France, there is an alternative to an invasive surgical procedure to terminate a pregnancy: abortion by medication. Mifepristone, commonly known as RU-486, has been available in France for 11 years and has gained regulatory approval in thirteen other countries. More than 300,000 women in Europe, and possibly more than three million in China, are estimated to have used mifepristone or another prostaglandin to end pregnancies.
Final talks are underway between the Food and Drug Administration and the Danco Group, the company sponsoring mifepristone in the United States, to clear approval for the American market. Called Mifeprex, the drug could be available sometime this year. One Kaiser Family Foundation survey of over 750 physicians and nurses found that over half said they were likely to incorporate mifepristone into their practice.
Colorado first legalized abortion in 1967 and the Supreme Court ruled abortion legal in all 50 states in 1973. According to the U.S. Abortion Index, 27% of pregnancies end in abortion and 93% of abortions are performed for social reasons. Nearly 1.25 million abortions are performed each year in the United States alone. That’s about 3 abortions every minute!
Abortion is the unlawful taking of human life! Under the Mosaic Law, God said, “If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe” (Exod. 21:22-25). The Psalmist David declared, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them” (Ps. 139:13-16). Jeremiah 1:4-5 records, “Then the word of the Lord came unto me saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
Abortion is no less wrong when the means is medical rather than surgical!
Truth
Magazine Vol. XLIV: 17 p16
September 7,
2000