The Great National Shame

Victoria's lower house has approved a bill allowing unfettered access to abortions up to 24 weeks; and from 24 weeks to full term, only 2 doctors would have to agree that the pregnancy is having a negative impact on the mother "physically, mentally or socially". No abortion would be considered a crime. (See this article in the Australian).

Here's a particularly disturbing argument:

Nationals frontbencher Jeanette Powell, who hails from the ultra-conservative seat of Shepparton, voted for the bill and gave one of the better received pro-choice speeches.

"A number of people have asked me, 'Who speaks for the baby?'," she told parliament. "The answer, I believe, is that the mother speaks for the baby, and we need to respect that right, whether we agree or disagree with the decision they make."

How would you feel if someone wanted to kill you (for no crime done), and the state appointed as your defense lawyer (or as the judge of the case) that very person? The mother who wants an abortion can't possibly speak for the baby - it's a very serious conflict of interests. (Usually we recognise this - the mother who neglects and abuses her three-year-old (for whatever reason) is never given the final say as to whether DOCS takes the child away.)

Why will our government pay for people to kill little humans one day (via abortion), but if the baby's born the next day, you would be locked up for it? That magical birth canal, pathway to enjoying the full rights of humanity.

*Please pray that the bill will be decisively rejected in the upper house.*