The intention of putting this article here is not to be critical of the people involved in the events discussed in the second article but to highlight another problem India has.
It has always vexed me as to what the Hindu stand was on the matter of abortion. Of course unlike all the organized religions, Hinduism seems more like a philosophy to guide us and thus leaves the decision making to the individual. The sentiment has been articulated well in the article in the first article in blue.
Please read the following before that:
As a Hindu, I believe the Soul is eternal and immortal, while the body is subject to birth and death. Life is sacred. In the context of abortion, what is important to me is the intent, the motivation, behind the decision. In the overall cosmic balance was the act, life enhancing or diminishing? For, as you sow, so shall you reap; for somewhere along in the cycle of karmic births and deaths you will be rewarded by the fruits of your action. Karma (literally: action) is the sum of one's actions, and the force that determines one's next reincarnation.
Now with all this in mind I would like to make the point of selective abortions in India. That is a sin in the eyes of god even for Hindus. A religion which calls "kanyadaan" a grace cannot condone female foeticide. Chinese society is beset with problems because of the one child policy and the Chinese obsession with male children. Single middle age men have been responsible for murderous attacks on school children.
Hinduism gives us freedom to choose based on our conscience. We should be thankful for that. But we should not be misusing our god given freedom.
And now the article which led to this:
Rebel Nuns
When it comes to nuns, though, the church is somehow able to act with alacrity. This week, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix announced the excommunication of Sister Margaret McBride for the crime of approving an abortion necessary to save a woman’s life. The patient, a 27-year-old who was 11 weeks pregnant, had pulmonary hypertension, which interferes with the functioning of the heart and lungs. Pregnancy exacerbates the condition, and doctors at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center determined that she would die without an abortion. St. Joseph’s is Catholic, so an ethics committee meeting was convened. As part of the committee, Sister McBride opted to save the patient’s life. For that, she’s been rebuked, transferred, and essentially barred from participating in Catholic life.
Read the rest of the article at the following.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-05-21/catholic-nuns-go-rogue/?cid=hp:exc
There is way too much of female infanticide in India and it is really a shame. When I was a child, I knew about one of my relatives who wanted a boy after two or three girls and aborted one or two children before the boy he wanted was born.
ReplyDeleteBut let me ask this, if any of our close relatives does it, will we be willing to break our relations with him. How do we propose to punish such a person ? Government has no capability to administer justice in even more serious matters. I really do not see a solution except that enlightened people should be willing to break relations with someone who does it, even if that person is very close otherwise.
I delivered that threat to someone last year. As it turned out, it was a case of false pregnancy.