Fear of the pastorsNeither political party has taken on abortion as a main issue to be addressed.
Fear of the religious right in our country is at the heart of the reticence of the parties to reform our laws.
During a debate on the issue in the media last year, the same old views of the churchmen were on display.
The pastors are firmly of the position that nothing needs to change. They think their view, as is enshrined in the current law, should be how it should always be. Some went as far as saying abortion should not even be legal in cases of rape.
The conservative view that life is formed at conception is extreme and should be disregarded.
The question that should be debated is when is the appropriate cut-off point for the procedure. In the Roe v. Wade era in the U.S., some states restricted abortion after six weeks, many between 24 and 26 weeks. Most abortions in England, Wales and Scotland are carried out before 24 weeks.
The Bahamas could take a similar view. It could even be more conservative and limit abortions to between 12 and 16 weeks.
What should be rejected outright is any abortion ban based on the viewpoint of any one religion.
Our secular constitution protects us from the tyranny of religions. All reasonable religions that follow the law should be tolerated, and their adherents free to practice them. However, no religion should be the sole source of the law in a healthy society.
Women must push for their rights
Abortion services are a basic part of female healthcare. Whether or not a woman brings a pregnancy to term should be her decision and her decision alone.
A woman bears a child alone. And, too often in The Bahamas, after birth, she also bears the costs of rearing the child alone.
The views of the pastors should not determine our abortion laws. In The Bahamas, we give too much weight to the conservative views of our religious leaders.
In a secular democracy a pastor’s voice is just one of the many. No special status should be given to it in public debates about the law and fairness.
The Bahamas’ representative on the United Nations’ Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Marion Bethel, has previously said that the decriminalization of abortion is among issues that need to be prioritized.
CEDAW has recommended that The Bahamas address several issues, including abortion and marital rape.
It recommended the decriminalization of abortion in all cases, and the legalization of abortion in cases of rape, incest and severe fetal impairment.
The status quo in The Bahamas on abortion must change. But for it to change women and male supporters of the cause will have to put more pressure on the political class.
This coalition must continue to show that this is an important issue that must be addressed now.
Women’s groups should demand of both political parties that the abortion laws be changed.
Bahamian women should not have to continue to suffer the indignity of backroom abortions in their own country, or having to pay thousands of dollars to fly to the United States for the procedure.
Our women should be free to choose what they want to do with their bodies.
• Brent Dean is a communications consultant. He is a former editor and general manager of The Nassau Guardian. He can be reached at [email protected].
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Publish date : 2024-10-04 00:30:00
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