Is this a religious issue, a woman's issue, or a legal issue and why?

Predominantly it is a womans issue, but the legal system and religious groups like to think it is their issue aswell.

Why should it be when it is mainly the woman that deals with the emotional turmoil that an abortion, or indeed, an unwanted baby leaves behind? I'm sure that most women go through with, and make the dcecisions regarding abortions, on their own because they feel that the law and/or their religion prosecutes them for their choice, and this is so wrong!

No1Home2 - Have you ever been put into a position that requires you to make this decision? Would you rather a child be bought into the world with no financial security, a parent that cannot be there for the child, or a parent who is not capable of being a parent? It is NOT a desicion that is taken lightly, it is not an easy choice to make. It is a huge moral issue that has been picked apart by people who have NO idea what torment a woman goes through in making her decision. If MEN had to carry the baby, and MEN had to be responsible for bringing it into the world and eventually raising the child in an unstable environment, then i'm sure the MEN that take it upon themselves to make most of the decisions regarding, and stamp their authority onto issue, then their thoughts and opinions would soon change.

It is a moral issue. A spiritual issue. It affects a person emotionally to have the life they created killed. That person will have to carry that deep emotional hurt forever. A very personal issue. Even if they say it doesn't affect them, it will always be in the back of their mind. A person can't kill someone without it affecting them. Young girls are having it done like they would get their ears pierced now. They don't know how it will effect them. They aren't thinking that yet. Someone needs to think for them so they don't have to live with it and commit suicide over it someday. That is why I am not opposed to it being a legal issue. Of course it is a womans issue but it took 2. The father has, or should have the same emotional ties to the child he created. Loosing that child should have an effect on him as well.

No doubt God is against it. Nuff said.

It is all three...some issues are just bigger than any one individual and this is one of them.

1) Legal issue as an unborn child has legal rights bestowed upon it as a minor, defenseless, early stage human being (Look at the 'Laci & Connor Law' regarding violence against pregnant women - the charge is with 2 murders not 1.) Those who cannot defend themselves need to be assured a defense within a civil society.

2) Woman's issue as it is her body and her responsibility to provide for the caring and support of that unborn child.

3) Religious issue as anyone who says that stopping the development of a human being and a beating heart isn't a moral dilemma is either lying or hasn't really thought about it. All major religions respect the sanctity of unborn life.

My personal opinion is that abortion as a means of birth control or because of inconvenience is never justifiable. Termination of a pregnancy due to profound medical issues or safety of the mother, is justifiable but should be rare.

EDIT: Smitty - this is not strictly a "Christian Issue" - this is an issue of humanity and civilized society. All religions and many people without a religious affiliation believe in the sanctity of unborn life.

It is a moral issue. It involves taking a purely innocent life, mostly for the convenience of the mother, the father, or the mothers parents. It is very, very rare that it is for the life of the mother (which is justifiable).

To say it is a woman's issue is to deny the life within her. The statement goes, "It's my body...". Well, perhaps for the procedure, but the baby is the one being disposed of.

As for a legal issue, this is a bit touchy. It seems wrong, but it would be better that those who insist on getting abortions be able to go to a clean, professional medical office instead of less safe alternative methods. I think if there are better preventative methods, as well as more love and support for single pregnant mothers, many abortions could be avoided. And, yes, adoption is a good option, since the waiting list for newborns is huge. There is no such thing as an unwanted baby. In any case, the laws need to reflect a balance for safety for those who insist in such procedures, and changes in adoption laws so parents who don't live in gated communities can affordably adopt.

It's a religious issue, because some faiths have dictates that are relevant to abortion.

It's a woman's issue, because women are uniquely affected by abortion as opposed to men.

It's actually a men's issue as well, because (believe it or not) men are uniquely affected by abortion as opposed to women.

It's a legal issue because of all of the second and third statements above.

Mostly a woman's issue, a lot of a legal issue, barely a religious issue.

Neither. It's a moral issue.

If that "fetus" were just a lump of matter, as they would have us believe, then there's nothing wrong with abortion.

But the absolute fact is that this baby has a heartbeat, a brain wave, and even unique finger prints! It's a living being, growing within the womb of the mother for the sake of protection and nutrition!

Abortion has NEVER healed a woman with cancer!

Abortion has NEVER healed the pain of a rape!

Abortion has NEVER resolved the financial difficulties of a pregnant mother!

Let's face it - abortion kills, and in my own opinion, I think that anybody who wants to perform an abortion should first (retroactively speaking) get one done on themselves first to see what it feels like! ("It's rather hypocritical to support abortion if you're still alive!")

Additional comment:

For those who say it's the woman's body, so it's her choice, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!!!! It's the BABY'S BODY, and she does NOT have a choice in what happens to another person's body with neither their knowledge or approval! (Even then, it would still be wrong!) But quit, just QUIT saying that the woman can do whatever she wants just because it's her body - I repeat, it is NOT her body!

It's a heart issue.

It's a loaded issue.

It is all of the above really.

Abortion should be a woman choice but not used as a form of birth control.

Rape, yes!

Unprotected sex with every man, no!

Severe birth defect, your choice!