Jock's Place - Because pregnancy is not an illness - Comments

I don't think...

Jock — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:24:06 +0000

...neutrality was what was being encouraged in the Lib Dem Voice piece I linked to. It sounded more like suppression of all religious influence in the political spehere (something I wold contend would not be possible anyway given our national history).

On your other point though, in the absense of high quality, and compulsory, sex ed in this country, and given the two cohorts most likely to have an abortion - undergraduates and late teens - whilst it may be an inconvenience for some I don't think we can safely assume either that everyone presenting for an abortion has a full grasp of how it might affect them, in the short and long terms, and a really good understanding of how not to get into that situation again.

Abortion is seen amongst far too many as the main line of defense against "unwanted" pregnancy. Until rates of conception fall amongst the most vulnerable groups because of better education and planning I think lifting what restrictions remain would be a wrong signal.

Jock, "And far from being a

Joe Otten — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 20:18:13 +0000

Jock,

"And far from being a secularist party, our Liberal history is one of defending the rights of individuals to practice whatever faith they believe in, or none."

I don't see where you get the "far from" from. Secularism is precisely the neutrality of the state on questions of religion - a necessary part of that right. That's all the NSS is asking for. Yes most NSS members would probably like you to give up catholicism, just as most catholics would probably like to see the reverse. But in neither case should we assume they are looking to impose their views.

The concern with the compulsory extra counselling is that it is about erecting barriers, and running down the clock. It is grotesque to assume that every woman seeking an abortion has not really thought about it already.

We don't know at what stage of development of a foetus it is right to consider it a person. That is a scientific and philosophical question that is presently beyond our grasp. But any policy to make every abortion happen one week later that it would otherwise happen stands a fair chance of pushing a great many unborns past that stage.

Because pregnancy is not an illness

Jock — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 10:08:15 +0000

I've wrestled my conscience about getting involved in the recent discussion about Cardinal O'Brien's outburst about politicians supporting abortion. As a liberally minded Catholic I do think I can shed some light on the issue that has caused much consternation and not a little intemperate language amongst fellow party members. But I always hesitate to talk about abortion for, unlike His Eminence, I do think that it is unwise for a single man never likely to sire children, to pontificate on the issue.

But today's Observer ups the ante a little with this: MPs to fight for abortion on demand in which some want to remove the few remaining blocks that attempt to ensure that would be termination clients get what amounts to the most cursory advice and counseling about the potential consequences of abortion.