6. THE QUESTION WAS: When did the
Catholic Church first teach that abortion is a grave evil?
A. 1st
century
B. 5th
century
C. 15th
century
THE ANSWER IS
A
First Century
For explanations on abortion and a bunch of
other morality teachings in modern times, see the booklet : Beginning
Apologetics 5: How To Answer Tough Moral Questions at http://catholicapologetics.com/ba5.htm
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Catechism on Abortion
2271 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.75
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.76
2274 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.
Prenatal diagnosis is
morally licit, "if it respects the life and integrity of the embryo and
the human fetus and is directed toward its safe guarding or healing as an
individual. . . . It is gravely opposed to the moral law when this is
done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the
results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent of a death sentence."82
2272 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,"77
"by the very commission of the offense,"78 and subject to
the conditions provided by Canon Law.79 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
2275 "One must hold as
licit procedures carried out on the human embryo which respect the life and
integrity of the embryo and do not involve disproportionate risks for it, but
are directed toward its healing the improvement of its condition of health, or
its individual survival."83
"It is immoral to produce human embryos
intended for exploitation as disposable biological material."84
"Certain attempts to influence
chromosomic or genetic inheritance are not therapeutic but are aimed at
producing human beings selected according to sex or other predetermined
qualities. Such manipulations are contrary to the personal dignity of the human
being and his integrity and identity"85 which are unique and
unrepeatable
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