The Abortion Debate !

This move to ban abortion in  Alabama in  almost all cases except to save the life of the mother is not a Catholic church inspired option to reinstate church opposition to abortion.  The legislation is put forward by a cabal of white Republican men of mixed religion.  It seems to strike a blow against the rise of women who seek equal pay and equal opportunity which for centuries has been the domain of the world of men.

The one thing that has stymied women in the past has been control of their bodies when it comes to maternity.  In todays world many women put off having babies until they have established their career - or remain childless by design.  It can be argued that the innovation of the " pill " type of birth control in its many forms has eliminated unplanned pregnancies and with them the need for abortions, but human nature ensures that many pregnancies are unplanned.

This is shaping up to split the conventional Republican/Democrat divide across the American heartland.  Perhaps half a dozen Republican majority states may restrict abortion and a Republican president has obviously decided to rebalance the High court to the right by his choice of candidates while he remains in office.

America's population is about an equal split of men and women and next year they go to the polls to either give Donald Trump another term, or select a new president.  The fact that the anti abortion state action should alarm women that legislation in Alabama and some other states is intended to force the issue back to the High court where their right to abortion may cease if " Roe v Wade " is reversed. There is a very real danger that abortion may become illegal across the entire country - with little warning.

Public opinion polls clearly show support for the status quo.  Getting an abortion is a personal decision and abortion clinics provide a safe and efficient service across the nation.  Now it depends if this becomes the election issue when the people go to the polls next year.

Pope Francis has wisely refrained from demanding that American Catholics support abortion suppression.  He has merely firmly confirmed the opposition of his church to abortion, even when the foetus is afflicted with pathological disorders.

It is interesting that in one of the countries which used to engage its laws in strict conformity with Roman Catholic liturgy the split between church and state ever widens.   Ireland recently held a referendum on same sex marriage - which is opposed by the church - and that is now legal.

Now another of the church's dogmatic rules is under fire. It teaches that marriage between a man and a woman is a bond until their deaths but Ireland already has divorce on its law books and that is about to become easier.   A referendum has approved by 82% a move to end the stipulation that people seeking divorce must separate for four years before that divorce can be granted.

It seems strange that church dogma is being reversed in countries where the church held overwhelming power, and making a comeback in the country that promised its citizens the apex of personal freedom.   Such is the shackle of politics  !