I'm split on this. On the one hand abortion and the issues around it are very personal and individual scenarios. Using that, I don't think that this issue should be on the elections agenda.

However, it is in the end the government who change these rules and we should know there standpoint on it as it will affect the personal and individual issues I mentioned above.

I think that the laws surrounding abortion should stay the same.

quote:

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Originally posted by: Adam
"The Catholic church have no place in elections."

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i'm afraid that that's nonsense. the role of a democratic government is to reflect the wishes and views of the majority. in order for this to happen fairly, the views of the population need to be listened to. the catholic church represents the views and beliefs of a sizable chunk of the population, and as such need to be listened to.

it is not, of course, acceptable for the catholic church to promote one party over another, but i don't think this is what they're doing. there's a cardinal on channel 4 news at the moment who has expressly refuted this.

Catholic Church should go **** themselves! Abortions a personal choice 2b made by individual... they shudnt have their choices limited or dictated by others religious beliefs

Well said John - I couldn't have said it better.

me
xx

It's very rare that I ever side with Michael Howard, and I don't think this is going to be the exception. Abortion is an issue that will rage on and on in ethical/moral arguments. The ultimate decision on the legal limit to have an abortion, at least in my view, should be made by the medical profession. When any political group attempts to hijack such an issue, it can easily become manipulated into a more extremist proposal, such as the abolition of abortion altogether, which is what the Vatican supports.

I agree with JohnK on this, abortion exerts an unbelievable psychological pressure on any woman who has to endure it, and to condemn them for it ad hoc, as in many American circles, is very dangerous, and indeed plain immoral.

The Church does have a very important role to play in society, and indeed the Government should be influenced by it in some circumstances, particularly the more liberal sects of the Church who campaign for human rights.

I believe that Howard has made a mistake on this issue, the Conservatives recent surge of support has been mainly down to the ineptness and unpopularity of the current Government, and the optimism that the Tories are trying to put their bigoted past behind them. This runs the risk of reminding people of just why they were kicked out in 97.

Sorry if I'm rambling, I'll have a think about this one and try and be more coherent at a later date.
Steven. xx

This issue is very important to allot people, not just people who have religious backgrounds, but I also think its a matter of personall moraliity and that a politician, has no right to dictate about how women treat their bodies. Abortion should stay out of politics, it is not to do with left or right, but rather a dualism politicians don't often use these days, right or wrong.