The Catholic Church on Abortion

Abortion is an issue of grave concern to Catholics because it concerns issues of human dignity. As Catholics, we believe that human dignity is rooted in God. Our dignity comes from the very fact that we were created by God in the image and likeness of God and because of this, all people are equal in dignity. The Catholic Church is against abortion because it infringes upon our God-given dignity.

God is the only Author of Life

God is the author of all life and has given us the ability to co-create with him. What God has not given us is the authority to kill other people. “You shall not kill” is the Fifth Commandment.

Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2258

Nothing Less than Human

Abortion is a gravely immoral act because it is murder. An embryo inside its mother’s womb is nothing less than human; science proves this with DNA as the evidence. The termination of a pregnancy is not merely the elimination of a cluster of cells. It is the destruction of a human life form in its earliest stages.

“Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2274

Human life, and therefore the dignity afforded to it, begins at the moment of conception, when the egg and sperm join to create a human being.

“From the moment of its conception life must be guarded with the greatest care while abortion and infanticide are unspeakable crimes.”

Gaudium et Spes 51 § 3

A Child’s Dignity

If life does not begin at conception, then at what point do we consider life to begin? Is it the point at which the baby becomes sentient? Is it the point at which it could survive on its own? That is laughable because no human could survive on its own. Children could not survive without additional care until several years after they are born; they are very dependent upon a caretaker just as an unborn child is dependent upon its mother. Should an unborn child have any less dignity than one who has been born?

An abortion is murder of the worst kind. Abortion is the murder of a vulnerable and innocent human life which infringes upon our God-given dignity.

If you want to learn how to talk about abortion in a compassionate and effective way, subscribe to the weDignify podcast.

2 thoughts on “The Catholic Church on Abortion”

  1. What about if the mother’s heath is at risk and a medical doctor confirms it is necessary?
    Insurance by Catholic Dioceses will pay for abortions in this case. This is still abortion, is it not??

  2. Thank you, Jon, for creating this blog. You are truly gifted with words. I will keep coming back here to use your words to impart to my children.
    God bless you always.
    Myla

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