GENTILE BRANCH: The MTP Act: License to Kill ??

Sunday, January 4, 2009

The MTP Act: License to Kill ??

By THOMAS MATHEW

The Indian MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy)Act: The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act was enacted by the Indian Parliament in 1971 and came into force from 01 April, 1972. The MTP act was again revised in 1975. The MTP Act lays down the condition under which a pregnancy can be terminated, the persons and the place to perform it.

The reasons for which MTP is done, as interpreted from the Indian MTP Act, are:

(i) Where a pregnant woman has a serious medical disease and continuation of pregnancy could endanger her life like: a. Heart diseases. b. Severe rise in blood pressure. c. Uncontrolled vomiting during pregnancy d. Cervical/ breast cancer. e. Diabetes mellitus with eye complication (retinopathy). f. Epilepsy. g. Psychiatric illness.

(ii) Where the continuation of pregnancy could lead to substantial risk to the newborn leading to serious physical / mental handicaps examples like Chromosomal abnormalities. Rubella (German measles) viral infection to mother in first three months. If previous children have congenital abnormalities. Exposure of the foetus to irradiation.

(iii) Pregnancy resulting of rape.

(iv) Conditions where the socio-economic status of the mother (family) hampers the progress of a healthy pregnancy and the birth of a healthy child. Failure of Contraceptive Device irrespective of the method used (natural methods/ barrier methods/ hormonal methods).

This 4th condition is the most widely used to justify large percentage of legal abortions. All the pregnancies can be terminated using this criterion. As Christians we must seek the removal of the above clause from the MTP Act. In India annually well over 67 lakh* babies are aborted . The blood of these innocent souls are crying out, and we as Christians are to be the "salt & light of the earth" and we must not keep silent. Time has come to raise our voices to God for mercy and to the rulers of the land to review the MTP act for repealment.

* Source: Chhabra, R. and S.C. Nuna. 1994. Abortion in India: An overview. New Delhi, India, Veeremdra Printers. Data Collected: 1994

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The In-Grafted Gentile Branch

Romans 11: 17-24

17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bore not the root, but the root you. 19 You will say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not high minded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not you. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?