Religious Studies Christianity and Abortion

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R.S REVISION- ABORTION Roman Catholic Church "Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception; abortion and infanticide are the most abominable of crimes." Second Vatican Council, Encyclical Gaudium et Spes Abortion is always wrong. Life begins at conception (or at the very least we cannot be certain that it doesn't), therefore abortion is murder. The unborn child is a sacred human life; it deserves the same respect as any other human being. Even in the case of rape, the RC Church does not support abortion - the foetus would be paying for someone else’s crime. “Human life is sacred”. Humanae Vitae, 1968: “The unborn human being’s right to live is one of the inalienable human rights” Pope John Paul II, 1985 "Abortion is a serious sin. Everyone, whether Catholic or not, should have a proper respect for human life."Declaration on Procured Abortion, 1974: "From the time that the ovum is fertilised a new life is begun which is neither that of the father or the mother. It is the life of a new human being with its own growth. It would never become human if it were not human already" Declaration on Procured Abortion (1974) Church of England Abortion is an evil to be avoided if possible, but can be justified in 3 circumstances: 1. Risk to the mother’s life or her mental and physical health. 2. Baby likely to be deformed and mother feels she can not cope. 3. Rape. "Although the foetus is to be specially respected and protected, nonetheless the life of the foetus is not absolutely sacrosanct if it endangers the life of the mother." Church of England - Board of Social Responsibility Report 1984 The Church of England does not morally agree with abortion, but often accepts it may be the only way forward for someone. They do not condemn someone who has an abortion, but would help a woman get through it, come to terms with it, and
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