On Abortion
Posted May 05, 2003 - 06:11 AM
Email this to a friend Print this story
A touchy topic to be sure, but as the Vice Pope can tell you, the CHI teaches that life never begins nor ends. Therefore, to attempt to pass judgement on abortion while endeavouring to pinpoint the "beginning" of life is fruitless and time-consuming.
However, in the short-field view of humanity, it is the view of the Church that life begins upon the first drawing of breath. Until that point, the child is in a state of Super Potential Humanity, neither alive nor dead, and exists solely at the pleasure of the host (mother).
A non-breathing organism is to be treated as any other functioning organ, until the moment of first breath; therefore the unborn child is considered the property of the host.
Some English definitions of life and birth:
Life: "The interval of time between birth and death." or "The interval of time between one's birth and the present."
Born: "Brought into life by birth." or "Brought into existence; created."
(American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language)
The English language categorically defines life as something that occurs after being born. The Church believes that no-one is in a position to argue with the dictionary. |