Abortion

Swedish

The problem with free, state-funded abortion – can that be solved? Yes – there is actually a solution that is both reasonable and morally acceptable to all parties. But to understand what the problem is really about, you need to read the entire text below. It only takes three minutes. Let’s go!

You probably have heard someone say:
- "All life comes from God, and all life begins at conception".

Yes, that might be true. But when it comes to the issue of abortion, many people perceive that the beginning of life is a complex issue that cannot solely be defined at conception.

Therefore, you cannot, as many people believe - probably most people, - always stand up to that rule. That needs to be respected.

The rule or the argument that all life begins at conception is however Roman-Catholic theology. That is written in stone. In the Catholic Church you must respect it. There is no way around this.

When the true Roman Catholic person - against that persons own will, is forced to pay for abortions for women of other faiths, then that is a problem. The reason is the Freedom of Religion Act. Freedom of religion is a fundamental right. It is instituted in the Swedish constitution.

Freedom of religion means that no person should be subjected to religious coercion. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and conscience. Everyone knows this. It is wrong to force someone to act or live against their conscience, even if we think we know better. For that reason, tax-funded free abortion is a very serious problem, both ethically and legally.

There is a possible solution – a model that has already been introduced in the United States, but which is rarely highlighted in Swedish debate, least of all by public service.

Hyde Amendment

The Hyde Amendment does not restrict the right to abortion. It only affects how it is financed. It therefore does not prevent anyone from having an abortion. The Hyde Amendment means that federal tax money cannot be used to finance abortions in the United States - except in cases of rape, incest or where the mother's life is in danger.

However, each state in the United States is free to enact its own laws on abortion at its own discretion. If a state wants to use its own tax revenues to subsidize abortions, they are completely free to do so.

What would this mean in Sweden?

If Sweden were to introduce a similar model, where state tax funds are not used to finance abortions, but where regions, municipalities, organizations, private insurances or private individuals can voluntarily contribute money to abortion clinics in order to ensure access to legal and safe abortions. 

Such a solution would give individuals the opportunity to live according to their personal beliefs, without being forced to bear financial responsibility for decisions they do not share. This approach balances a woman's right to freedom of choice with respect for the individual's freedom of conscience. The procedure would respect both religious freedom and women's rights. Human rights are also given - as they reasonably should do - priority over civil rights.

Abortion legislation in the USA - an overview

Since the Supreme Court's decision in 2022 (when the Roe v. Wade ruling was overturned), each American state has the right to legislate freely regarding abortion. This means great variations - from a total ban, to full access to abortion, throughout the whole pregnancy.

Respect, concern and thoughtfulness

The abortion issue is emotionally indicted and deeply personal. But if we in Sweden want to do as the USA has done on this issue, - protect human rights and religious freedom, then we need to openly, objectively and respectfully consider the Hyde Amendment proposal which - without restricting any woman's right over her own body - respects everyone's integrity.

Abortion
Facts - Conclusion

According to current Swedish legislation today we have free, tax-funded abortions, regardless of reason, up to week 18.

Whether the pregnant woman in question wants to carry out the abortion just to avoid giving birth or because at the time being she wants to devote herself to something other than giving birth and maybe raise a child, the legislation does not take into account  - the legislation does not care.

No man has the right to kill a child, whether the child has left the mother's womb or not. Abortion is about killing a creature that can hardly be claimed to be anything else than a human being.

"But it's a fetus! - not a human being!"
- Our existence is biological. We come into existence at conception and grow thereafter. If the fetus is not considered a human being then it is acceptable to perform an abortion at any time throughout the pregnancy. The fetus, does not increase in value or dignity with each week of pregnancy.

At the moment of conception, a process begins that ends only after adolescence, not week 22. It is impossible to say during this process when the fetus is to be considered a human being.

The heart starts beating after 5 weeks. The fetus reacts to song and music, sucks the thumb and can dream. It has its own unique DNA, its own unique RhD set, and the fetus, feels pain.

The argument that it is the woman's body, and no one else that is involved, is clearly incorrect. There are two bodies, and, two lives involved. The problem is that the fetus is not able to articulate its interest in being allowed to live. The fact that the child lives in the mother's womb does not give the mother the right to kill the child.

There are no circumstances that can justify the killing of an innocent person. We will not solve the problems of rape and other injustices by allowing women to have abortions. The abuse has already taken place, and the abortion will only be an easy way out.

It is therefore wrong to blame or send the adult world problems over to the child who cannot make its case through abortion.

The legal conscience in a civilized society says that society must protect the people who are defenseless. All people have an inviolable right to life.

The damage in question through the rape is complete, it's done. The damage cannot be be undone or reimbursed. The poor fertilized woman in question is forced (according to current Swedish legislation), against her will, to choose. 

The forced choice at hand, which is at stake here, is either to spill the problems of the woman's adult world over to the defenseless child by killing the child. Or, by letting the child live, live with that problem. From what I understand and perhaps experience, the child must be allowed to live.

The woman who is a crime victim is, in my opinion, in consideration of civilized jurisprudence and ethical awareness, forced to give birth to the child, and live with that problem. A society that promotes, pays for and carries out interventions where more victims of crime are created, by taking the lives of innocent children, is not a civilized society. Exceptions for incest and serious medical danger to the mother should perhaps, be the only occasions when abortion can be justified. But only then.

Destroying a viable fetus out of pure convenience with the support of current Swedish legislation is, from what I understand, a flagrant violation of UN conventions on human rights. Why? 

… But;

- I have to think about and take responsibility over my own future?

- It's an unwanted child, - thus condemned to a bad life?

- I don't feel ready right now to become a parent.

- I want to plan my parenting, I will have children later instead.

The ways of life are, unfathomable. That is a fact. That's how it is. No one, can know in advance how the little life in the womb will cope. No one.

♦

Sharpen now up

When I was a small boy I spent all my childhood summers with my grandfather and grandmother on Grötö which is a small island located in the Gothenburgs archipelago. Everyone who lived there on Grötö worked at that time as a fisherman, a tremendoudly hard, tuff and tiring profession.

The moral and spiritual strength that was held by these fishermen families (during the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s), it was in a completely, completely different division than what our Sweden is built on today. I am now talking about completely different kind of ”wood” that most of us usually can not refer to today.

Only nine months old, my mother was given away by her biological parents, without the family's knowledge, to fishermen Otto and Svea Eriksson on Grötö, who seventeen years later came to adopt her. My mother told me that she was adopted and that she as an adult, only once, during a short visit, had sought out and met, individually, her respective biological parent. Whether possible poverty was the reason why abortion could not be performed, which was illegal in 1931, and who her respective biological parent was, she never said.

When I asked who they were and what their names were my mother then told me with a sad, slightly terrified, yet disciplined firm look - straight in to my eyes, that I never will forget; - no, he was an evil, man. I don't want us to talk about it. Out of respect for my mother's trauma, I left it at that.

My protective, perfectly healthy, outstandingly fantastic mother, she came out to experience a long, extremely content-rich, and beautiful life. All my other known family members except my father who also has fallen away, still do.

♦♦

Jesus also came as a vulnerable unexpected child. Despite social stigma, Maria embraced life. Joseph accepted the responsibility of fatherhood. And both of them fought to protect him from being killed. Billions of people therefore came to live a better life.

A bacterium on Mars is considered as life. But a heartbeat on Earth, that's not life? It is now with 68 years on my shoulders that I have come to understand why almost only older people collect wisdom.

Public service that has occupied the altar of reproductive rights does not want any restrictions on the abortion issue. That is the truth. Public service's extremely large market share has resulted in that the pro-choice view on the abortion issue by no means have been given the same space as the abortion advocates. That is neither good enough nor acceptable.

The Swedes' position on abortion has therefore through the Swedish goverment media activities become a matter of maturity, I believe.

.

I find it troubling that when a woman of conveniance reasons decide to terminate the life of her child, then - through my taxes, I am forced to pay for the abortion.

I do not like that.

When a man and a woman have chosen to have intercourse, that comes with a responsibility to take its consequences.

♦♦♦

UN

If the Hyde Amendment, which means that pro-choice people can donate money to abortion clinics to ensure access to legal abortions - and consequently safe abortions - were adopted by the UN and the governments of the Western world, then it would solve the extremely problematic application of both religious freedom and human rights in both an ethical and legal way.

But because our corrupt media, fake news and our public service withhold information of the Hyde Amendment which is a righteous, fair and reasonable alternative way to go, the proposal remains unknown. That is the reason why no change is happening, I believe.

My personal position on abortion
The woman has exclusive rights to her body. The woman thus has every right to do what she wants with it. This also applies to her right to life, liberty and the right to pursue happiness. The other body that is in the woman's womb, the viable unborn child, she has no exclusive right to that, any more than any other body's right to life, freedom and the right to pursue happi-ness. I am therefore against abortion. Despite this, I am pro-choice. Why? I have no exclusive right to judge either the pregnant woman or anyone else in this matter. As a Christian, I have handed over that task to the creator.

♦♦♦♦

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Thomas Ek är medlem i www.medborgarperspektiv.se