The History of Women's Reproductive rights in the US by a Law Professor

@SW-User St Brigid of Kildare

“A certain woman who had taken the vow of chastity fell, through youthful desire of pleasure and her womb swelled with child. Brigid, exercising the most potent strength of her ineffable faith, blessed her, causing the child to disappear, without coming to birth, and without pain.”

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigid_of_Kildare#:~:text=In%20the%201987%20translation%3A%20%22A,to%20birth%2C%20and%20without%20pain.

@DarkHeaven Not until 1588 did Pope Sixtus V declare all abortion murder, with excommunication as the punishment. Only 3 years later a new pope found the absolute sanction unworkable and again allowed early abortions. 300 years would pass before the Catholic church under Pius IX again declared all abortion murder. This standard, declared in 1869, remains the official position of the church, reaffirmed by the current pope.

@SW-User No, in the earlu Church some abortion was not even considered sinful. In the early Roman Catholic church, abortion was permitted for male fetuses in the first 40 days of pregnancy and for female fetuses in the first 80-90 days. We are talking very early.

@SW-User The Church ran the Spanish Inquisition - it has been wrong on occasions. She has had blemishes and continues to have them, no matter how hard she tries.

@Zeusdelight I agree. And I say this as a definite believer. I truly love my faith but their stance on a myriad of issues can and has not only been wrong at times but it also will and does change course over time as well, with better understanding of the issues. This is one thing that I really love about the Catholic faith is it is not so rigid and absolute that it will not change course when a something ends up clearly being wrong. I read scripture and try to get my best understanding but I ultimately keep my own council as sometimes the interpretations that I’m told by some is clearly not what I’m seeing or feeling in my own heart. I let love and kindness be my guide which does make the question of abortion very difficult, as we are weighing the rights and safety of the woman over those of the child. I don’t know what the answer is tbh. I know I can’t carry a child but if I could, I would not terminate for any reason, even if it put my life in danger or a case of rape. That being said, it’s hard for me to feel like we should mandate that choice for every woman, especially ones that don’t even share my faith. I am pro-life… just not necessarily anti-choice as far as legislation for the defining laws of our country.

@Zeusdelight I appreciate the polite debate your post has offered. Be well.