"In the first place, the definition of life as beginning with conception is a religious one. In most discussions, it seems to be taken as fact. Not all religions agree that it is a human being with full constitutional rights, etc. upon conception. So the discussion is a religious discussion, and should be limited to pews and steeples rather than made a government intervention issue."


I agree. But of course you have to remember that some religions do not consider that "it is a human being with full constitutional rights, etc" until it is 13, or 18, years of age, or has had children. So I have to presume you would not object to killing those individuals if it was more convenient, since they are not fully human.


Above is sarcastic- The government HAS to act as a meeting ground for differing views, to determine what the SOCIETY as a whole ( rather than any one religious group or political viewpoint) will consider as the correct point to consider them human. Yet you do not seem to allow the discussion of this. ( nor does EITHER side)

The point is that BOTH sides have legitimate concerns and points to make, and BOTH sides refuse to have any kind of reasonable discussion about it.