The intention behind the Abortion Act, when it was brought into force 40 years ago today, was to stop women having horrific backstreet abortions and to allow abortions in exceptional circumstances only, namely that going ahead with the pregnancy would put the life of the mother at serious risk. It has, however, been so abused that today there are more than 400 abortions taking place each day.
For some, there is little value to be discerned from something that, on the surface of things, seems to be little more than a dot of cells and tissue (I am addressing only those pregnancies that were conceived as a by-product of consensual sexual relations). That dot, however, contains the power and potential of life. Fast forward nine months and that dot of cells and tissue will be a living, breathing, smiling, crying, loving human being.
The skewed belief has taken hold of society at large that sex has a value and significance on par with a pleasurable trip to the cinema or a satisfying workout in the gym. Sex has become meaningless. It is no surprise then that its intended purpose - to pro-create - is being factored out of the equation by so many to the point that it is an undesired, inconvenient side effect.
The fact that the side effect happens to be a human life is inconvenient indeed for some. The fact that it would be altogether more convenient if this side effect were disposed of is even more inconvenient still. Abortion is physically and emotionally horrific for the women who endure it, yet still regarded by many as 'worth the hassle' if the birth of an unplanned child is deemed too great an interference in a woman's plans for her life.
