Because it's a matter of right and wrong. The lines may be blurred but it's only due to the inability/unwillingness of society to see the truth.
In most cases, abortion is simply premeditated murder. A case for abortion can be made when it involves life/death issues. Even then, my wife would have chosen to die vs killing her baby.
ram, I hope that you can admit that what you call "the truth" is YOUR belief based upon YOUR sense of morals and is not a belief that is universally shared. Some people feel just as strongly that killing animals for the multitude of reasons we do so is murder as well. If you respect life then shouldn't you respect all life?
The same questions surround end-of-life issues. I find it quite hypocritical of our society that we rationalize that euthanizing animals is often the "humane" thing to do but many object to extending that same humane treatment to humans.
Most of those who object to abortion say they do so based or rooted in their religious beliefs. That being the case then why should your religious beliefs trump mine? Not all Christian faiths think that abortion should be outlawed. I am Presbyterian and my church's position is that abortion is as follows:
"When an individual woman faces the decision whether to terminate a pregnancy, the issue is intensely personal, and may manifest itself in ways that do not reflect public rhetoric, or do not fit neatly into medical, legal, or policy guidelines. Humans are empowered by the spirit prayerfully to make significant moral choices, including the choice to continue or end a pregnancy. Human choices should not be made in a moral vacuum, but must be based on Scripture, faith, and Christian ethics. For any choice, we are accountable to God; however, even when we err, God offers to forgive us.".
Presbyterians aren't alone. The United Methodist Church position is:
"The beginning of life and the ending of life are the God-given boundaries of human existence. While individuals have always had some degree of control over when they would die, they now have the awesome power to determine when and even whether new individuals will be born. Our belief in the sanctity of unborn human life makes us reluctant to approve abortion.
But we are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother and the unborn child.
We recognize tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion, and in such cases we support the legal option of abortion under proper medical procedures by certified medical providers. We support parental, guardian, or other responsible adult notification and consent before abortions can be performed on girls who have not yet reached the age of legal adulthood. We cannot affirm abortion as an acceptable means of birth control, and we unconditionally reject it as a means of gender selection or eugenics (see Resolution 3184)."
United Church of Christ:
"God has given us life, and life is sacred and good. God has also given us the responsibility to make decisions which reflect a reverence for life in circumstances when conflicting realities are present. Jesus affirmed women as full partners in the faith, capable of making decisions that affect their lives...
The United Church of Christ has affirmed and re-affirmed since 1971 that access to safe and legal abortion is consistent with a woman’s right to follow the dictates of her own faith and beliefs in determining when and if she should have children...
We have also supported that women with limited financial means should be able to receive public funding in order to exercise her legal right to the full range of reproductive health services. What is legally available to women must be accessible to all women."
So is it right for you to ask others to respect your religious beliefs but you in turn don't show that same respect to other faiths?