Polarised and dysfunctional abortion debate deprives us of middle-ground perspective

The abortion debate in Ireland has become increasingly dysfunctional and polarising. The almost complete sidelining of the “middle ground” has to my surprise moved me to a place I would never have anticipated. Previously my position would have been that abortion should only be available in cases of rape, unviable pregnancy and a threat to the health and/or life of the mother.

I would not have been and am still not in favour of abortion on demand, abortion as a late contraceptive or abortion as a means of terminating Down syndrome or other special needs pregnancies. I say this as the parent of a child with special needs who has brought untold joy to my life.

However, in absence of that middle ground I am forced to make a choice fully conscious of the potential for many of the things I do not want to see happen becoming a reality.

I genuinely regret the at-times casual disregard for the life of the foetus by many in the “pro-choice” camp. To minimise the reality of abortion is to undermine our own humanity. That said, I am much more disturbed by the approach of the majority in the “pro-life” movement, where the mother is too often portrayed as a vessel whose primary purpose is to support the life within with little account for her own humanity, welfare and integrity.

Her motivations in choosing abortion, no matter how traumatic or medically necessary, are ignored and her actions are described in terms of murder regardless of the circumstances. This is cruel and tantamount to misogyny.

Uncomfortable
I have also become increasingly uncomfortable with the predominance of "pro-life" male voices that display little if any sympathy for the complex variety of situations in which women considering abortion find themselves. There is also something quite bizarre about non-medical politicians, clergy (of any church) and others trying to argue medical technicalities with highly qualified medical specialists.

Those like myself who are of religious faith have no monopoly on wisdom surrounding this issue, but within the Christian tradition I find our role as co-creators with God as quite instructive. We have been given the ability to create life, but it is not forced upon us.

Core choice
Even Mary, the Christ bearer, was given the choice to say yes or no to bearing the Messiah. Her choice is at the root of the faith of those of us who call ourselves Christian.

On a pragmatic level I am swayed by the fact we already have abortion in Ireland. We export the implementation of it and, in so doing, condemn women to an often lonely and frightening journey. This is hurting women every day.

And finally it comes down to trust. If we are to truly respect the role of women in childbearing then we have to trust them without subjecting them to the kind of overbearing oversight that is proposed in the new legislation. Yes, all life is precious but that includes the lives of the women who must face the joys and agonies of childbearing and childbirth. Their "yes", and even their "no" we must respect.

And so I must declare myself pro-choice. I feel I must trust women with the integrity of their own bodies. The alternative is to take from women that most fundamental right of determining their own role in creation. That is fundamental to their humanity and to mine.

Canon Stephen Neill is rector of Cloughjordan in Tipperary