late term abortions in Quebec

[caesar]

Quebec hopes to offer late-term abortions

Last Updated Fri, 10 Sep 2004 19:06:28 EDT

QUEBEC - The province hopes to have a doctor in place next year that will offer late-term abortions to women six months pregnant and beyond, Quebec health officials announced Friday.

I do believe in the right of abortion but really do not think that an abortion at this late date is acceptable unless it is an emergency. It really surprises me that this move comes from Catholic dominant Quebec.

[CANADIEN]

That will be my only intervention on this thread for the moment (one thread only for me), but what is surprising as that people would think Quebec is Catholic dominant.

Yes, most Quebcers are baptized in the Catholic church, but baptism is more a cultural thing than a religious one. Churches are empty. Bishops are at best ignored. Most couples don't marry. Public opinions on abortion and gay rights is at odds big way with that of the church hierarchy. Religious instruction is no longer provided in public schools.

I am not surprised at all by that move, Caesar. I am surprised it did not happen earlier.

[caesar]

Late term abortions are not right. At that late date; it is a baby and irresponsible. I agree women should have a choice but this is waiting too long.

[August1991]

This article might put some perspective on the issue.

In 1996, the US Congress passed a law to forbid "late term abortions". Clinton, to his credit, vetoed the bill.

It is a rare intervention done primarily to ensure a woman's safety.

Since it is so rare, it may make sense to send women to Kansas or New York rather than have it done in Quebec. I understand that it costs 5000 US.

Incidentally, it is just such services provided to foreigners that make international comparisons of health statistics difficult. The US provides health services to people from around the world. It's a growth industry and the US is on the cutting edge.

[caesar]

Late term abortions to protect the mother's health or to end an unviable fetus are special cases; I believe they have always been allowed. I hope it is only for these special circumstances.

[JWayne625]

I hope it is only for these special circumstances.

I hope that is the case as well, but I wouldn't bet my life on it. Many women today have abortions strictly as a birth control measure, or because the method of birth control they were using failed, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with her health being threatened.

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I believe the a child is the gift of God or whatever Higher Power a person aspires to, and it is not right to simply snuff out that life just because it isn't convenient at that present time. My nephew and his wife just gave birth, 3 month's ago to a beautiful baby girl who has some serious health issues. They're not sure at this point just what they are, or what this little girl will have to deal with in the future, but they told me that even if they had known earlier in the pregnancy, termination would never have been an option. Hos wife told me that she believes that there is a plan for everyone, and it is not up to her to decide what that plan will be for her daughter. They will simply take one day at a time and allow nature to take it's course.

[Bakunin]

I think its up to the mother to decide if she want to keep it because there are thousand of reason why sometime they shouldn't have a child but its 100% sure that sometime the reason will not be a good one but hey its their business, lets not decide for them.

[Neal.F.]

I believe that all abortion should be illegal. It comes from the basic right to life. It must apply to all from conception until natural death (you now know my position on euthanasia too). it is as wrongto kill a baby even days or hours after conception as it is to kill someone in their 30's walking down the street. Abortion is simply killing someone for the crime of being inconvenient. Freedom of choice exists up until the moment of conception. One can choose to participate in or abstain from sex. By choosing to participate one implicitly acknowledges the potential risk , contraceptives notwithstanding that the possible result will be a pregnancy. Is it right to ask someone else to pay for one's actiosn, with their life?

Isn't itinteresting that often the most virulent opponents of the death penalty for violent murderers are often the most vocal advocates for the right to murder the innocent?

As for Philippe "Mengele" Couillard the "health" minister in Quebec, that he thinks it should be legalized let alone covered by the taxpayer shows how morally bankrupt he and the Qubec Liberal party are. And to think Charest was CONSERVATIVE leader at one time. His regime is a disgrace.

When you have Henry Morgentaler (who i refuse to dignify with the use of the honorific Dr.) refusing to have anything to do with late term (partial birth) abortion, then you know something is wrong in La Vielle Capitale.

Canadien is correct to a certain extent that most Quebecois do not see the inside of a church except for baptisms , some weddings (when they bother with it) and funerals. The Quiet Revolution in the '60s saw French speaking young people reject the church in droves and embark on a new religion: secular nationalism and socialism.

The English speaking Catholic Church is very much alive and well in Quebec, however.