Abortion - A Barbaric Ritual

LETTER TO THE EDITOR - 11 November 2007

Dear Editor

Ric John is quite correct when he states that "abortion is a matter of opinion" (FCC 10/11/07). Indeed it is, for most people will venture an opinion on what is euphemistically called "therapeutic abortion"; one way or the other.

However, it is also a matter of both religion and science. But let us look at the latter.

By definition, abortion is an act whereby the unborn child is destroyed in the womb and then removed or allowed to be stillborn, or removed from the mother's womb and encouraged thereafter to die.

According to readily available statistics, abortions account for 41% of all deaths in Australia, claiming more lives than any other single cause, and far outnumbering cancer, heart disease, road deaths, suicides, and homicides combined.

100,000 abortions take place each year in Australia, compared to 250,000 live births.

More than 98% of all abortions are for convenience and have nothing to do with medical purposes, rape or foetal deformities.

Reportedly, there are several main methods of therapeutic abortion in Australia at present, including suction, in which the foetus with its placenta is quite literally sucked out of the womb, being torn apart limb from limb, and dilatation and curettage, in which the foetus is cut into pieces by a sharp instrument and then reassembled to make sure no limbs or other parts are left in the womb to cause infection or other problems.

Other methods include saline amniocentesis, or salt poisoning, which usually brings about the death of the foetus within an hour and the birth of a dead, salt-damaged child within a day or two, and prostaglandin chemical abortion which brings about premature delivery of a child that is just too young to survive.

More recently, the controversial abortion pill RU486 has been added. This consists of two medications mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone needed to maintain the pregnancy. When progesterone is blocked, the uterine lining begins to shed and bleeding often occurs. Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract and the foetus is usually expelled within 6 to 8 hours.

All of these involve destroying a living foetus by mechanical or chemical means.

This is the science of abortion; the cold, hard, clinical facts of what has become a major industry in Australia and a vast money spinner for drug companies, and some in the medical profession.

No amount of rationalisation can change the facts. Our barbaric rituals are literally killing off future Australians.