Life
Life
In any pregnancy, both the woman and preborn baby have inherent value and dignity, by virtue of being made in the image of God. CARE is passionately pro-woman and pro-life: we advocate for both lives in a pregnancy to be protected and for a society where women are genuinely supported.
We believe there is a better way than abortion – a way that truly supports women in unplanned pregnancies, defends those who are vulnerable and have no voice, and is life-giving to preborn babies. For the last 40 years, we have strived to tell that story and uphold the value of life in our society.
Together we can work for a culture where both women and babies flourish – where all life is valued from conception and women are protected from the harm of abortion.
Abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women
The arguments for abortion.
1. Women have a moral right to decide what to do with their own bodies.
2. If abortion is illegal, it drives women to dangerous backstreet abortions.
3. A pre-born fetus only has moral agency when it’s outside the womb.
The arguments against abortion.
1. The right to life is the oldest and most important right there is. It applies equally to the mother and to the pre-born baby.
2. Life begins at conception.
3. Abortion involves the taking of a life and the baby is denied a choice.
4. There are alternatives to abortion, such as adoption and fostering.
CARE's perspective.
Abortion is ultimately about rights, personhood, equality, and choice. It is a moral issue. Every abortion involves the taking of a life.
At CARE, our starting point is the word of God. From the very beginning of the bible, God declares that human beings are His image-bearers.
This means many things, but chiefly it suggests that human beings have a dignity and honour that is not given to anything else in the created order.
Moreover, God Himself, in the Person of the Eternal Son, Jesus Christ, became fully human, entered the womb of Mary as an embryo, developed and was born and then grew through puberty to full adulthood.
Nothing dignifies humanity more than the incarnation. God became man! If God is willing to do that, how precious life must be.
Then you read Psalm 139 where we are told that humans are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’. Psalm 8 says humans have been made a little lower than the angels (in some translations, than God himself!).
You also read that it is wrong to murder (Exodus 20:9). There’s also the reaction of baby John when Mary visits his mum, Elizabeth. Though still in the womb, John leaps for joy. Clearly, the bible attaches personhood to a preborn baby.
For these reasons (and there are more) we conclude that life begins at conception. That you do not come from an embryo. You are an embryo and develop into a baby. At all points, you are human. Since it is wrong to take innocent life intentionally, it is wrong to abort.
At CARE we also recognise that in every pregnancy, both lives matter.
It’s not enough to simply oppose abortion, we want to also recognise that every woman who experiences a crisis pregnancy is also an image bearer of God.
We do not believe abortion is in the best interests of the mother and sadly, many women who’ve had an abortion carry grief and guilt as a result.
There are real alternatives to abortion – including adoption – but it’s not always the case that women are made fully aware of these options.
OPEN is an initiative of CARE. It aims to create an environment within churches where unintended pregnancy and post abortion concerns can
be shared with grace and compassionate understanding.
Abortion has become a highly polarised and toxic issue in our society… but I believe that when we try to enter this battleground, our Christian task is first to listen and to understand, to empathise. Only in this way are we going to be able to speak with integrity, with authenticity and with compassion.
Here are a range of resources to help you dig deeper on the issue of abortion.
CARE
We believe that in every civilised society we should hold open and respectful debate: seeking first, to listen and understand the views of others, and second, to form sound, logical arguments to defend our own. In this series we examine various aspects of the abortion debate.
Explore
by Naomi Marsden
Naomi Marsden explores some of the claims perpetuated by those who seek a radical overhaul of the UK's abortion laws, and the wide-reaching effects decriminalisation will have on all pregnant women and the legal status of preborn babies.
Read the article
CARE for Scotland responds to the proposed Abortion Services (Safer Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill.
Read more
At CARE, we care deeply about both women undergoing pregnancy and about the babies in the womb. We hope this prayer resource will bless you and equip you to express to God what is on your heart.
Find out more
CARE
Want to engage in a loving and logical manner on the issue of abortion? Keen to equip yourself better on the Christian response to ethical issues like assisted suicide? Here are ten resources that will help you.
Read more
CARE
When those with pro-choice beliefs are intellectually honest, a real conversation about abortion can begin, says CARE's Naomi Marsden.
read more
Archbishop Justin Welby has revealed that his wife felt pressured to have an abortion by hospital staff.
Read article
I want a society in Northern Ireland that values life, and I want to see services that will help women choose life. We want to see a perinatal palliative care centre, a maternal mental health unit and better childcare services, and that is my ask of this Government. Help us create a culture of choosing life
Together we can make a difference shaping our culture and society. Here are three things you can do right now…
Join us in praying for Christians to be courageous, wise and compassionate in defending women and preborn babies. We have suggested several prayer points to help you pray.
Ask your MP to reject amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill that could lead to the decriminalisation of abortion.
Read our long read on what 'decriminalisation' of abortion will really mean.