Moral Issues And Getting Your Facts Straight.

Another interesting moral phenomenon, is what you base your information on.

Back in 1980's and into the early 90's, abortion clinics were occasionally bombed. Just for the record, all mainstream pro-life organizations and people disavowed the bombings. John Salvi III carried out the fatal shootings of two abortion clinics in Brookline, MA in 1994. But some leading pro-life figures said it was no worse than what went on in the clinics. In other words it could be justified.

Killing can only be justified in the protection of another person's life. That is the only answer to that moral question. In the case of assisted suicide though, in terminal illnesses, (quality of) life may be actual consideration.

In the past, things like treason were punishable by death, because betrayal was the worst offense you could commit, people thought. And Henry VIII's Act of 1542 further defined witchcraft as another form of treason. A couple of his wives were beheaded for treasonous adultery. But most people agree this was ridiculous. Protection of life as defined above is the only exception.

The question with bombing abortion clinics (which most people disavowed, as I said) is when does life begin. At which trimester, as in Roe v. Wade? Does it begin with a single cell? Would it be justified then?

As you can see, it gets more complicated. And most would see the last one as silly. But not everyone.