"The countries that proclaim abortion, or allow it, are really the poorest of the poor" (Mr Theresa). I agree with Mr Theresa's comment on abortion here. Those who procure abortions in the modern world are destroying life. Sometimes we must ask ourselves how many great leaders, scientists, and role models have not even been given the chance to live their lives fully.
The church feels strongly that human life is sacred, and as such, any violations on the human right to life is a very grave sin. Any procured abortion directly contradicts the fifth commandment, "Thou shalt not kill". Catholics should not have abortions according to the church, in any circumstance except two very extreme cases. The church's points of view is that if there is an ectopic pregnancy, or the mother develops cancer during the pregnancy, then life saving treatment can be administered by doctors, even if it results in the death of the foetus. This is known as the 'Doctrine of Double Effect', and is allowed because the death of the foetus is a secondary effect from saving the life of the mother, and therefore is not strictly abortion.
The Law of Moses ordered strict penalties for causing an abortion. We read, "If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely, but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined...But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot" (Ex. 21:22–24). This applies the "law of retribution" to abortion. This law creates the just punishment for an injury (eye for eye, tooth for tooth, life for life). This is all because the early Christians believed that aborted babies should have justice too. The church's teaching has always been that an unborn baby has a soul just like a toddler or and older person.
The church however doesn't agree that the rape of a woman and subsequent pregnancy are fair grounds for procuring an abortion. Instead the church teaches that the mother and child should live together in God's love, or should the mother be unable to cope with the child, then she should give it up for adoption. Any abortion on the child would be crime on something just as innocent as the mother.
The church is, it must be said, completely non-judgmental about a girl who has had an abortion, and gives advice to all who ask for it on the matter. The church tries to understand the pain and torment that the mother experiences as she procures an abortion.
From the earliest times, the Christian Church has upheld the idea of the sanctity, and sacredness of the child in the womb. The earliest Christian literature we have is the Didache and the teaching from this (dated AD 70) has had a massive effect on the teaching on abortion. The very early councils of the church also had a very pro-life stance on the issue of abortion and the child in the womb:-
-Alvira in 305 AD excommunicated women who had procured an abortion after adultery.
-Ancryo in 314 AD denounced abortion.
-Elvira in the fourth century excluded the sacraments for the life in the case of abortion.
Also in the 11th Century "Catholocism" stated that abortion of a formed foetus is the same as homicide. One of the very famous Christian philosophers St Thomas Aquinas said the babies are deemed dignified and developed enough to be the possessor of an immortal soul. Pope Paul VI succeeded Pope John XXIII. He said,"Human life is sacred. All men must recognise that fact".
The Hippocratic Oath makes doctors swear that they will, 2...maintain the utmost respect for human life, from...conception...", therefore any doctors who carries out abortive procedures breaks not only the laws of the church but his oath that he took when he became a doctor. The Hippocratic Oath comes form the Greek physician Hippocrates who believed in letting nature take it's course , and this certainly doesn't happen when an abortion is procured.
This shows that the church's teaching that human life is sacred has a big impact on its teaching on abortion.
Other churches teach similar things and have a similar stance as the Catholic Church on the issue of abortion. there are two attitudes among the different churches. The first is that abortion is totally wrong and the foetus has a right to life, and this is what the Catholic Church teaches. The second view is more liberal, and it is that abortion should be permitted as the lesser of two evils, though abortion is discouraged. "The unborn child is created in the image of God, and is one for whom the Son of God died"-Durham declaration to the United Methodist Church. "We affirm that every human life, created in the devine image, is unique...we...believe that abortion is an evil...But we also believe that to withdraw compassion is an evil...Christians need to face the fact that in an imperfect world the 'right' choice is sometimes the lesser of two evils"-general Synod of the Church of England 1988. Over all the Catholic Church, the Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church are all on the same moral ground and firmly against abortion, whereas the Anglican Communion and the Methodist Church discourage abortion but don't outlaw it.
Before we can totally make up our minds about whether the church's teaching that human life is sacred has an effect on its stance on abortion, we must balance the argument. Many people believe that procured abortions are a thing that the woman in question should decide on. These people are known as pro-choice campaigners. They teach that an embryo inside the womb is just a cluster of cells which has the potential to become a human being, and that each woman should have the opportunity to terminate her pregnancy if she wants to. Also they teach that abortion should be allowed in cases of extreme duress for the mother and also if she realises that she will not be able to cope with the new arrival. Finally, believers in pro-choice think that abortion should be legal to prevent dangerous back street abortions.
"Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God" (Evangelium Vitae chapter3). In conclusion I have to say that I think the church's teaching that human life is sacred has a massive effect on its teaching on abortion.
