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Alabama: America’s battleground

Two American women united in their Christian faith but on totally different sides of the abortion debate

The American state of Alabama, is the new fault-line in the country's battle over abortion. Two Christian women are on polar opposites of the argument. Sarah Howell resolutely opposes abortion. The Reverend Traci Blackmon is just as resolute in her belief that abortion should be legal.

In Alabama, a virtual ban on abortion is due to become law in November. It is one of a wave of States that wants control of the procedure to be given back to them.

Despite the law on abortion getting tighter in Alabama, its largest city - Birmingham – is pressing ahead with a brand new sexual health clinic. It says it will go ahead and provide abortions even though this flies in the face of the new law.

It is against this backdrop that Sarah and Traci discuss how their faith sustains their opposing positions.

Presenter: Sherrel Wheeler-Stewart
Producer: Siobhann Tighe
(Photo: Pro-choice activists hold signs in response to anti-abortion activists outside the US Supreme Court. Credit: Saul Loeb/AFP)

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27 minutes

Last on

Sun 22 Sep 201922:32GMT
BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa

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  • Fri 20 Sep 201912:32GMT
    BBC World Service except News Internet
  • Sun 22 Sep 201908:32GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Sun 22 Sep 201916:32GMT
    BBC World Service News Internet
  • Sun 22 Sep 201919:32GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
  • Sun 22 Sep 201922:32GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa

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  • Heart and Soul

    Personal approaches to religious belief from around the world.