Pro-Life
Pro-Life is the preferred self-description for those in the USA who are of the general political opinion that abortion should not be legal.
The term was coined in the early 1960s, in the USA, and refers specifically to the life of the unborn children seen as the subjects of abortion. Though spanning a wide range of political and moral beliefs, the Pro-Life movement is generally defined by the belief that the unborn, as fully human in their own right, have a right to life and legal protection, and that pregnancy should not be artificially terminated. Within this view exists a spectrum of political nuance: some believe that abortion should be illegal in all circumstances, while some believe that it should be permitted under certain special circumstances (such as pregnancy due to incest or rape, or if the mother's life would be put in severe mortal danger should the pregnacy be allowed to continue).
The Pro-Life, also referred to as Pro-Birth and Right-to-Life, philosophy is seen as being opposed to Pro-Choice philosophies, wherein it is held that termination of pregnancy is the right of the pregnant woman. Though various religions preach against abortion, it is not merely a religious issue and is generally considered to be an issue of morality and rights.
Not all supporters of the Pro-Life movement do so based on religious convictions; nevertheless, the core support for the movement comes from various Christian churches.
Some anti-abortion individuals have used terrorist tactics to further their cause. However, the actions of these individuals are considered by most as antithetical to the basic tenets of the Pro-Life movement, and are not considered a part of the Pro-Life mainstream.
It is a loaded term: it contains the connotations that people who oppose the political opinions it describes are against "life" and are in favor of "death". Both "Pro-Life" and "Pro-Choice" are examples of political framing: they are terms which purposely try to define their philosophies in the best possible light, while by definition attempting to describe their opposition in the worst possible light (being anti-life or anti-choice).
See also
External link
- LifeNews.com (http://www.prolife.org/), a Pro-Life news website
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