Sorry to interrupt, could you cite "strong evidence" that the soul doesn't enter until shortly before birth? I'm intrigued, as I am with uncbuck's assertion that we must assume that it (soul)enters at conception.Pardon me for interrupting as well but...I don't think this theological debate on the arrival time of the soul is really necessary.
A human sperm joins with a human egg, becomes one cell with a unique DNA and has the vitality of spontaneous growth thereafter. It is undeniably alive and provably a unique individual. What kind of individual lifeform could it possibly be other than human?
Should i ask my questions on a private reply? There is no doubt as to whether or not it is human or unique IMHO, but I believe the assumptions about the souls are necessary when discussing abortion.
Many souls are involved.