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Do parents of raped daughters have the right to abort the fetus?
Legally and scripturally, do parents have the right to abort their daughter's fetus if she was raped?
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Asked April 27 2016
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Ken van Zyl
Supporter
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Jennifer Rothnie
Supporter
In the U.S.A, it is illegal for parents to force their child to have an abortion. They would be subject to Federal homicide laws if they did, whether by physically forcing her, or by slipping her an abortion pill, etc. Other use of threats and harassment are also illegal. Morally, which is the larger issue, it is most definitely wrong! The parents should ask themselves how they would feel if their own parents came to visit and forced them at gunpoint to murder their own teenage child. Would they find that moral and acceptable? No one should force another human being to commit murder. Consider the case of Pharoah ordering that the Hebrew children be aborted or killed shortly after birth. In the Pharoah's eyes, the Hebrews were his 'property', his slaves, and he was the highest law in the land. He saw nothing illegal or immoral in his actions. "The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?” Ex 1:15-18 Yet the midwives did not obey the command of Pharoah, even lying to him because they feared a higher authority - God! God blessed the midwives because they feared Him. So, if someone receives the command to murder an innocent life, even from a higher authority such as a king or parent, it is not to be obeyed. God is the highest authority, not man, and He says murder is wrong (Ex 20:13, Deut 5:17, Matt 5:21, etc). 'Fetus' is merely the name for one stage of development for a human being. Embryo, zygote, adolescent, adult - those are other stages. The human being is the same growing, developing, genetically distinct human organism throughout. Another related case in scripture is found in Ex 21:23: "If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman's husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. "But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, would for wound, bruise for bruise." Here we see that the life of the child is protected along with the life of the mother. If the strike is accidental and causes no wound, then the man must pay a fine. Yet if mother or child is injured, the man had to pay in return. The above case is accidental, but the Bible speaks of pre-meditated murder as well. Under the law of Moses, If someone lay in wait to assault and kill a neighbor, they could not take refuge in sanctuary city, but were handed over to the nearest relative/blood avenger of the victim to be killed. These incidents show the character of God as a protector of innocent life. Another large concern, beyond the life of an innocent human, is the responsibility of parents towards their children. We are to give good gifts to our children (Luke 11:13), take care of them (I Tim 5:8), and train them up in the way they should go (Prov 22:6). Discipline should be for the sake of righteousness, not for the sake of evil. The method of conception of the grandaughter/grandson in this case is irrelevant. Circumstances of conception do not affect the value of a human life. The best way to bring healing is for the parents to be supportive of their daughter emotionally, spiritually, and financially if possible.
Ellen Witkowski
Supporter
Absolutely not! I believe no one has the right to take the life of another person's life. That is a right that Our Father in heaven owns and should not be preformed by anyone on earth. Every life is a precious gift from God. Although we can't always control the actions of others and how Our God chooses to bring His precious ones into this life, each life is conceived and born with purpose.
Steven Scott
Supporter
Absolutely not. The creation of life is God's idea. He is the one who decides when the egg will be ready. He is the one who decides which sperm will fertilize it. He is the one who decides the gender, eye color, blood type...He decides EVERYTHING. He is the creator of life. He only is the one who should decide to take a life. A baby's life is PRECIOUS. If you decide you cannot afford to have the baby, or you don't have the mentality to keep the baby, put the baby up for adoption, so the baby can LIVE.
Allyson Wilson
Supporter
Choose to give this baby a chance at becoming a great person by giving it up for adoption. Every child has the right to live. Adoption is a far better way to handle this difficult situation. Abortion is viewed as murder in Gods eyes & there is one commandment which states "thou shalt not commit murder". Show this innocent baby the power of unconditional love.
ammie p
Supporter
What about the child's rights or GOD'S rights? We are not to return evil for evil but render good for evil. The whole earth is the LORDS. What was meant for evil God uses for good. This rape may have been meant to destroy the daughter, but how much more would be the knowledge of destroying a baby who is as innocent as the daughter? I would think that would be more destructive. I would ask the question to the depths of your heart, what would Jesus do, what would you say to GOD who allowed conception - that God is wrong? Please LORD convict our hearts. I ask that our eyes be opened, amen.
Kabiru Adeyemi
Supporter
My opinion is that such right can only be exercised if the victim is underaged in which case health implication is equally involved.The victim may decide to keep or terminate the pregnancy if of age.i.e 16 or 18 years depending on society laws.Scripturally speaking however, I do not think the scripture recognizes that any child is illegitimate regardless of the stigma or trauma that may be associated.There is human life in the fetus even though not born and the command of God both in the old and New Testament is that we should not kill: Exod. 20:13, James 2:11, 1st peter 4:15. The scripture also makes it clear in Jer. 1:5 and Galatians 1:15 that GOD's plan for man predates our birth as with prophet Jeremiah and Apostle Paul. His matchless, boundless grace will always be sufficient.
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