Abortion is murder; the teaching of the Church

Almost daily we hear in the media the debate concerning a woman's "right" to have an abortion. Some term it as being reproductive health care for women, stating that a woman has a right to do as she wishes with her own body.

As a practicing Roman Catholic, I know that the Catholic Church has always condemned this criminal act, calling it murder and a violation of the 5^th Commandment of God. We know that the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit and that it holds the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, and that it possesses the truths concerning our eternal salvation, so here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church has to say about this issue:

# 2270 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.

# 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.

# 2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life… 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.

# 2273 The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a constitutive element of a civil society and its legislation…

# 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.

 This makes it quite clear that abortion is the murder of another human being, that at the moment of conception a new life begins, and that no one has the right to interfere with the development of that life. Yet we hear about many woman demanding to have the right to choose, as they put it.

 Personally, I respect the right of every individual to choose if they will obey the Commandments of God or not, praying of course that they will have respect for life. But one cannot be blinded to the fact that when we die, each of us will be standing in judgement before the Eternal Father who gave us these Commandments, and if we have broken any of these Commandents without repentence, we will have an eternity of torments to endure, tortures that will never end! Yet, if we repent, we know we have a merciful Redeemer waiting to welcome us back with open arms.