Can a woman who has been raped have an abortion?
Introduction
This is one of the most agonizing ethical questions, as it forces the conversation about abortion into the context of unspeakable violence and trauma. For the Christian, the situation involves the intersection of two immense tragedies: the horrific crime of rape committed against the woman, and the threatened destruction of an innocent human life—the unborn child.
The Bible provides no specific chapter and verse for this scenario, but the Christian response must be governed by foundational ethical principles: the absolute sanctity of all human life and unconditional Christ-like compassion for the suffering.
Two Non-Negotiable Principles for Response
The Christian ethical framework holds that the evil of the father's actions does not negate the value of the child's life. Therefore, the response must focus on protecting life while relentlessly pursuing the healing of the mother.
1. The Sanctity of the Child’s Life (The Unborn is Innocent)
The Christian ethical stance against abortion is rooted in the belief that God creates and values life from the moment of conception.
Life is Known by God: The Bible teaches that human life in the womb is fully known and purposefully created by God: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb… Your eyes saw my unformed substance…” (Psalm 139:13, 16). The child conceived through rape is a human being made in the image of God.
Innocence of the Child: The child is innocent of the father's crime. Christian ethics holds that one cannot right one wrong (the rape) by committing a separate wrong (the killing of an innocent person). The child's right to life cannot be forfeited because of the manner of their conception.
The Christian Stance: Therefore, the primary Christian response is to affirm the life of the unborn child. Abortion, even in this tragic circumstance, is viewed as the termination of an innocent human life and is ethically opposed.
2. Radical Compassion for the Mother (The Call to Care)
The Christian responsibility does not end with affirming the child's life; it extends fully to providing the mother with relentless, unconditional support and healing.
Condemnation of the Crime: The crime of rape is an act of brutal violence that must be unequivocally condemned as a heinous sin against God and humanity (Genesis 9:6). The mother is a victim of profound trauma and deserves total support.
The Church’s Role: The Church must be the first responder in this crisis, acting with the grace and tenderness of Christ. This means offering:
Trauma Care: Access to professional Christian counselors and resources to process the trauma and grief from the rape.
Material Support: Financial, housing, medical, and emotional assistance for the duration of the pregnancy and beyond.
Choice of Parenting or Adoption: Supporting the mother's choice between heroically raising the child or placing the child in a loving, adoptive home. The Christian community must step in to make adoption a viable, life-affirming choice, ensuring the mother knows she does not have to carry the burden alone.
God’s Empathy: The mother needs to know that God sees her pain. Jesus, as the "Man of Sorrows," fully understands human suffering (Isaiah 53:3-4). The path to healing is through Christ’s love and the supportive community of the Church.
Conclusion
The Christian response to the trauma of rape and the resulting pregnancy is to refuse to choose which tragedy to eliminate. We must hold both truths: life is sacred, and the victim's healing is paramount.
This calls for a faith that is deeply compassionate and fiercely protective. By unequivocally opposing the destruction of the innocent child while offering the full, unconditional resources of the Church to the mother, Christians can demonstrate the Gospel of hope and healing in the midst of the world's most agonizing pain.
