Abortion remains an issue in contemporary society, sparking discussion about ethics, religion, and politics. The Roman Catholic Church, with its deep historical roots, provides a unique perspective on this topic. This article delves into the church's stance on abortion, tracing its origins, exploring the influence of the church, and elucidating how abortion is connected to the fifth commandment. The Catholic Church's position on abortion is firmly grounded in its theology and authoritative teachings. According to the Catholicism of the Catholic Church, human life must be revered and safeguarded from conception (CCC 2270). Various papal declarations, such as Pope John Paul II's "Evangelium Vitae," unequivocally denounce abortion as a grave offense. …show more content…
Ancient texts like the Didache and Epistle of Barnabas also condemn abortion as incompatible with Christian values. The Church's stance on abortion is unwavering and extends to its engagement in political matters. Over time, the Roman Catholic Church has consistently backed life, including advocating for the protection of the unborn in political arenas. Bishops and clergy in various countries have voiced opposition to legislative efforts to loosen abortion restrictions, supported pro-life movements, and collaborated with organizations devoted to instilling a life-affirming culture. A prominent instance of the church's political activism on abortion is its resistance to the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. Catholic leaders like Cardinal Terence Cooke of New York and Cardinal John Cody of Chicago strongly rebuked the decision, emphasizing the inherent worth of every human life and demanding legal safeguards. Since then, the Catholic Church in the U.S. has actively participated in the pro-life movement, advocating for policy changes and aiding pregnant women in
Lee, Patrick. Abortion and Unborn Human Life. Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America, 2010.
Abortion has been a political, social, and personal topic for many years now. The woman’s right to choose has become a law that is still debated, argued and fought over, even though it has been passed. This paper will examine a specific example where abortion is encouraged, identify the Christian world views beliefs and resolution as well as the consequences of such, and compare them with another option.
Sadly, as "legalized abortion" continues, Pope John Paul II says, "There will be a darkening of our conscience, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between right and wrong, - especially in regard to the respect of human life".
The relentless support of abortion is always contradicting the moral and good teachings of the Church. Through passed laws, pro-choice supporters have made it possible for many women to have abortions. In some countries, including the United States, there does not have to be a reason for a woman to have an abortion early in the pregnancy. The Supreme Court in the United States ruled that the fetus’s ability to live was between about twenty four weeks to twenty-six weeks (Glendon 22). These laws show that supporters of abortion do not believe that life begins at conception. This is contrary to the teachings of the Church. “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5). God knew us before we were conceived. He made us accord...
In Roe et al. v. Wade District Attorney of Dallas County (1973), one of the most controversial cases in recent history, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state laws that limit a woman's right to an abortion during the first three months of pregnancy. Justices Rehnquist and White dissented.Mr.
Mulligan, Kenneth. "Pope John Paul II And Catholic Opinion Toward The Death Penalty And Abortion." Social Science Quarterly (Wiley-Blackwell) 87.3 (2006): 739-753. Business Source Complete. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
We as Catholics are taught to show respect and protect human life from the moment of conception. From conception, the embryo must be defended, cared for, loved for, and healed, as much as possible, like any other human being should be. God gives life from the moment of conception and we don't have the right to take it away.
In the thriller film Lakeview Terrace, Kerry Washington plays Lisa Mattson, Lisa and her husband Chris Mattson are first-time homeowners and their safety is soon at stake when they realize their neighbor Abel, an LAPD police officer opposes their interracial marriage. Kerry Washington personality in this movie is an intelligent, well mannered, kind person. Viewers saw the soft side of Washington when was comfortably talking to her husband and when she was having fun with her friend, but also saw the tough side of her when she had to step up to her neighbor Abel and tell him to get off of her property. According to the article Q&A Kerry Washington said, “I very much loved the character Lisa, I had never seen this kind of African-American woman
There are several different perspectives on weather abortion is right or wrong. It often becomes a controversy. One way of arguing it is with Kerby Anderson’s “A Biblical View of Abortion.” Another is with Richard J. Hardy’s “The Right to Choose.” And lastly is Rachel’s, an anonymous writer from msngroups.com, “Abortion the Murder of Innocence.” Each of theses controversial articles are to objectively present different view or perspectives of abortion.
For many years, the morality of abortion has been questioned by two perspectives: pro-choice and pro-life. While modern culture explains that abortion is a woman’s free choice if she does not want the unborn baby, the Catholic Church teaches the world that from the moment of conception there is a child with a soul within the womb, and to abort it would be to murder an innocent being.
Abortion is a voluminous topic today all around the world. Differing viewpoints on abortion are recognized in politics, religion, and throughout the general population. There is a small amount of people who are nonchalant on the subject. Women have abortions for many different reasons and according to certain groups these reasons are either justified or not. Everyone tends to have their own articulated opinion, and many vocalize tenaciously what they believe. Pro-life individuals along with religion are sanguine that abortion is ethically and morally erroneous. Whereas those who are pro-choice say that abortion is inconsequential and the mother’s choice is more important than the fetus. Reasons to not get an abortion include risks involved in receiving an abortion. In some cases death can occur. However, there are other alternatives to abortion. For example, raising the child and adoption.
A typical pro-life believer argues that fetuses posses a characteristic such as a genetic code that is both necessary and sufficient for being human. This idea is mostly propagated by the principle of the Roman Catholic Church “In 1995 Pope John Paul II officially condemned abortion in his “Evangelium Vitae,” calling it a villainous crime that kills an innocent human being” (Knapp Pg 16) and supported by many fundamentalist protestants groups, though not by majority of Catholics an...
Nowadays, in this world, there are a lot of problems that can make tremendous conflicts for human beings. They are very complicated and bring a lot of argument and nobody knows what the exact answer is. They also have pros and cons. One of the most complex problems is abortion. This is due to moral and ethical values which we all have. The majority of us are Christians or are brought up in that kind of ambiance which means that as small children we were taught values that are based on the bible such as that famous phrase “Thou shall not kill”. This phrase relates to this topic because an abortion is the murder of a human being.
Through research an overall conclusion can be provided that most earlier religions, that is those before 1400 A.D., relied on the opinion of the doctor to determine whether abortion was right or not. If abortion would harm the mother, or the child, or both, then the abortion was acceptable. In Christianity, this was only true in some denominations, such as Baptists and Methodists. In these cases, a woman was not disgraced after having an abortion unless she went against the advice of a professional. However as Christianity has developed, this opinion has remained constantly opposite in Catholicism. Catholic theorists in particular have expressed intense, concrete views on the subject. These views clearly have more to do with a change in attitude regarding the moral status of a fetus than a change in attitude regarding sex. It is important not to confuse the two.
Pavone, Frank. “ The Bible's Teachings Against Abortion”. Educational Resources, Priest for Life. (2009) 102-107. 9 Feb 2014.