Abortion
In 2005, abortion is progressively more tolerated as a method of birth control, in contrast abortion was portrayed to be immoral during the time "A Raisin in the Sun" was written. Abortion is nothing new though, nor is the resistance of abortion to the church. In A.D. 314, a church council in Ancrya made the statement: "Concerning women who commit fornication, and destroy that which they have conceived, or who are employed in making drugs for abortion, a former decree excluded them until the hour of death, and to this some have assented. Nevertheless, being desirous to use somewhat greater lenity, we have ordained that they fulfill ten years [of penance], according to the prescribed degrees." Ancient civilization still needed to cope with the issues of the number of their off spring. Ancient civilization yearned for effective means to limit births. Since they did not have means of surgically removing their off spring they turned to other methods. These include forceful exercises, carrying unusually heavy weights, leaping viciously and being shaken by wild or controlled animals. These methods seem unreasonably violent and possibly painful compared to today's methods. Another way to conduct an abortion was to literally separate the womb from the uterus. To fabricate the separation, one had to empty the abdomen and cleanse it with warm, sweet olive oil as injections. Next, bathe the body in sweet water, remaining in the tub, drinking a little wine first and eating spicy food. Before abortion, women would take lingering baths, eat little or no food, use softening vaginal suppositories and be bled in considerable amounts. If caught doing so, the woman would be killed on a stake and unable to be buried. Abortion was legal until the catholic church conflicted. In 1588 Pope Sixtus V said that abortion was the same as
murder and given the same penalties. Within three years Pope Gregory XVI rid penalties if abortion was before 40 days after...
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