Theos-Talk Archives (July 2009 Message tt00388)

Morten asked:

"I wonder what H. P. Blavatsky said about abortion?"


IS FOETICIDE A CRIME [BCW V: 106-108]

[The Theosophist, Vol. IV, No. 11(47), August, 1883, pp. 282-283.]

The articles in your paper headed "Is Suicide a Crime?" have suggested to my
mind to ask another question "Is Foeticide a Crime?" Not that I personally
have any serious doubts about the unlawfulness of such an act; but the
custom prevails to such an extent in the United States that there are
comparatively only few persons who can see any wrong in it. Medicines for
this purpose are openly advertised and sold; in "respectable families" the
ceremony is regularly performed every year, and the family physician who
should presume to refuse to undertake the job, would be peremptorily
dismissed, to be replaced by a more accommodating one.
I have conversed with physicians, who have no more conscientious scruples to
produce an abortion, than to administer a physic; on the other hand there
are certain tracts from orthodox channels published against this practice;
but they are mostly so overdrawn in describing [107] the "fearful
consequences," as to lose their power over the ordinary reader by virtue of
their absurdity.
It must be confessed that there are certain circumstances under which it
might appear that it would be the best thing as well for the child that is
to be born as for the community at large, that its coming should be
prevented. For instance, in a case where the mother earnestly desires the
destruction of the child, her desire will probably influence the formation
of the character of the child and render him in his days of maturity a
murderer, a jail-bird, or a being for whom it would have been better "if he
never had been born."
But if foeticide is justifiable, would it then not be still better to kill
the child after it is born, as then there would be no danger to the mother;
and if it is justifiable to kill children before or after they are born then
the next question arises: "At what age and under what circumstances is
murder justifiable?"
As the above is a question of vast importance for thousands of people, I
should be thankful to see it treated from the theosophical standpoint.

An "M. D.," F. T. S.
GEORGE TOWN,
COLORADO, U. S. A

Editor's Note.-Theosophy in general answers: "At no age as under no
circumstance whatever is a murder justifiable!" and occult Theosophy adds:-
"yet it is neither from the standpoint of law, nor from any argument drawn
from one or another orthodox ism that the warning voice is sent forth
against the immoral and dangerous practice, but rather because in occult
philosophy both physiology and psychology show its disastrous consequence."
In the present case, the argument does not deal with the causes but with the
effects produced. Our philosophy goes so far as to say that, if the Penal
Code of most countries punishes attempts at suicide, it ought, if at all
consistent with itself, to doubly punish foeticide as an attempt to double
suicide. For, indeed, when even successful and the mother does not die just
then, it still shortens her life on earth to prolong it with dreary
percentage in Kamaloka, the intermediate sphere between the earth and the
region of rest, a place which is no "St. Patrick's purgatory," but a fact,
and a necessary halting place in the evolution of the degree of life. The
crime committed lies precisely in the willful and [108]  sinful destruction
of life, and interference with the operations of nature, hence-with
KARMA-that of the mother and the would-be future human being. The sin is not
regarded by the occultists as one of a religious character,-for, indeed,
there is no more of spirit and soul, for the matter of that, in a foetus or
even in a child before it arrives at self-consciousness, than there is in
any other small animal,-for we deny the absence of soul in either mineral,
plant or beast, and believe but in the difference of degree. But foeticide
is a crime against nature. Of course the sceptic of whatever class will
sneer at our notions and call them absurd superstitions and "unscientific
twaddle." But we do not write for sceptics. We have been asked to give the
views of Theosophy (or rather of occult philosophy) upon the subject, and we
answer the query as far as we know.
-----

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Morten Nymann Olesen
To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 7:07 AM
Subject: Theos-World HPB and a Cardinal Slams Spanish Abortion Law


  Dear friends

My views are:

We all like small kids and new-born babies...

"22-July-2009 -- Catholic News Agency

Cardinal Slams Spanish Abortion Law
Aranjuez, Spain, Jul 21, 2009 (CNA).- The prefect of the Congregation for
Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, Cardinal Antonio Canizares,
asserted on Monday that Spain's laws, which "must protect the defenseless,
are being used today to eliminate those who are weak, innocent and
defenseless."

During remarks at King Juan Carlos University, Cardinal Canizares said,
"Medicine must be for curing and not for killing. Laws must serve to protect
the defenseless but they are being used to kill these human beings. The
present situation reminds us precisely of the gravity of abortion, a reality
that reflects so many things.

"Without a doubt nothing else more clearly manifests the crisis of humanity
we are suffering," he said.

Abortion is a "very grave" problem, he said, and humanity needs to be aware
that the greatest crisis we are suffering is the "47 million legal
abortions" that, according to the World Organization of Health, take place
each year. "This is something unprecedented in the history of humanity," the
cardinal noted.

Regarding the question of the excommunication of health care workers who
perform abortions, Cardinal Canizares reminded that there is such a thing as
"immediate excommunication." "This practice is a crime, the killing of a
human life, an innocent, weak and defenseless human being. Is there any
other greater atrocity?" he asked."
http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=96689

I wonder if our well-tempered Cardinal will consider whether it is God who
blows life into the child at birth, when it has been created through rape,
or childmolestation, while Gid thereby voilates the ten commandments?

Yet, I say that abortion aught to be avoided as far as possible.

I wonder what H. P. Blavatsky said about abortion?

M. Sufilight

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