"As to the issues of 'killing a baby'.....it seems obvious that it (the metaphysical status of a fetus) is clearly not a matter that allows "proof"- one way or the other."

I hate to disagree because I enjoyed and agreed with much of your last post, Bill D. But on the above ... it is not "clearly not" a matter that allows proof one way or the other...

MOST of Americans believe that a "fetus" at 6-9 months is a baby -- because almost all of us know at least one baby that was born VERY prematurely (I know 4 who were born in the 24-25 week -- all quite "normal" today). So we know that when the pro-choice folks are demanding the right to have late term abortions, they are demanding the right to kill what most of us are sure -- and is quite demonstrably -- a baby.

No, it's not "clearly not a matter that allows proof one way or the other". Nor is it metaphysics.