respect life sunday

October 7, 2012: Respect Life Sunday

Catholic Church has never taught that it is right to kill an innocent human life, even if several centuries past, particularly due to a lack of medical knowledge, aspects of how and when life began were not completely understood. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is undeniably clear on the Church’s teaching on abortion:

“Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.” – Jer 1:5 “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth.” – Psalm 139:15

Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law: “You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish. God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.” – Gaudium et spes

Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. “A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,” “by the very commission of the offense,” and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law. The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society” (CCC 2270-2272)

Read the whole article

USCCB Respect Life Program Website

Article source: Aquinas and more, Picture source: USCCB Respect Life Program