ABSTRACT
Advocates for the right of the fetus often show little empathy either for the pregnant women seeking an abortion or for the doctors and nurses who provide safe health care for these women. The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision by the US Supreme Court, which legalized abortion to protect a woman's right to privacy, reflects a significant change in public morality. Many pro-life advocates believe that permitting abortion is changing the character of our society and that the consequences will include a less caring response to the health needs of impaired newborns and the elderly. Historically, marriage has been a socially sanctioned relationship between a man and one or more women. International law assumes that marriage is between a man and a woman and deserves protection because of the human dignity of each person. Yet, the experience of South Africa is evidence that a higher standard of public morality is possible.
