Abortion

It is the deliberate termination of a human life during the period extending from conception to birth. (We are not referring here to miscarriages).

Today conception is defined with scientific precision as the moment fertilization occurs: when the sperm unites with the ovum. At that precise instant, the development of a new human being begins. This is undisputed in modern embryology. Human life, like animal life, begins at this moment. Actions that prevent this union are not abortifacient but contraceptive, and are not the subject under consideration here.

Throughout those nine months, there is a living human being whose development is either permitted to continue or cut short (see embryo). Aborting at a later stage increases the gravity of the act due to greater awareness and physical development.

A mother in ordinary circumstances neither procures an abortion nor desires one. To do so would be contrary to reason, for it is unnatural for a mother to end the life of her own child.

- For example, is abortion justified in the case of a pregnancy during courtship? It should not be done, yet the dilemma is often perceived as complex because two competing goods appear to collide: the good of a human life and the interests of a mother who, for whatever reason, feels unable to welcome her child.

Obviously not. However, the mother foresees that the pregnancy will bring significant difficulties (social judgment, the father's reaction, financial strain...). Feeling overwhelmed, she may feel too vulnerable to face them alone.

- Depending on one's perspective, various approaches are commonly proposed: Those focused exclusively on the good of the child regard his or her life as paramount. Those focused exclusively on the mother consider sparing her distress to be the chief concern. Yet there is a third, truly constructive option: to seek the good of both.

Regarding the child, the only possible good is to allow him to live. In seeking the good of the mother, several essential realities should be kept in mind:

• Allowing the child to live is a true good for the mother, whereas the alternative leaves a deep, lasting burden on her conscience for years to come.
• The mother will inevitably have to endure certain hardships (as all mothers do). For instance, she will typically need to share the situation with her own parents.
• The mother requires genuine support to carry her pregnancy forward. In this regard, those who pressure her to terminate the pregnancy cause her immense sorrow and anguish. It is, after all, her own child.

- The goal, therefore, is to pursue solutions that safeguard the life of the child while alleviating distress for the mother. For example, staying discreetly for a few months with trusted friends or family, and in the meantime arranging for an adoptive family or supportive institution. This is not the only option; numerous avenues exist that allow both goods to be protected: the child's life and the mother's well-being.

The purpose of law is to restrain evil and promote the authentic good of citizens. In this case, the law must uphold the rights of two citizens: the child and the mother. Consequently, civil legislation ought to deter abortion and provide mothers with real alternatives and support to carry their children to term. Preventive measures should also be enacted.

Fostering a culture that upholds sexual intimacy within marriage. In this regard, placing responsible limits on pornography is beneficial, given its evident contribution to casual and irresponsible sexual behavior.

No, it does not. The sobering experience of multiple countries demonstrates the opposite: widespread promotion of contraceptive methods fosters a mindset of consequence-free sexual activity, which in practice leads to a higher incidence of unintended pregnancies and, ultimately, more abortions.

Empirical evidence consistently shows that when abortion is legalized, the total number of abortions multiplies dramatically. This is understandable, as many individuals equate legal permissibility with moral acceptability.

In doing so, Christian mothers are given unambiguous moral clarity about the gravity of the act, providing them with spiritual resolve to make the right choice. It serves to protect the life of the unborn child and the peace of soul of the mother.

The grave immorality of abortion can be recognized through natural reason without direct recourse to Scripture. Nonetheless, the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth (Lk 1:39-44) offers profound biblical testimony:

• Saint John the Baptist, three months before his birth, leaps in the womb to proclaim the presence of the Messiah (Lk 1:41).
• Mary is hailed as "the mother of my Lord" (Lk 1:43) when she has been pregnant for only a few days—the four or five days it took her to travel "in haste" to Elizabeth (Lk 1:39). At that very moment, she already bears God within her womb and is truly the Mother of God.
• Jesus Himself is recognized and proclaimed as the Messiah when His human conception has taken place mere days prior.

In summary, Saint John the Baptist at six months of gestation is already the prophet announcing the Messiah, and the Savior Himself is already present as Lord when only a few days conceived in Mary's womb.

Thus the Bible fully harmonizes with biological science in demonstrating that human life begins at the moment of conception, and abortion falls directly under the commandment "You shall not kill."

To varying degrees, abortion invariably leaves emotional and physical scars upon a woman:

• Psychological harm: Many experience intense guilt, deep remorse, sudden mood swings, depression, unprovoked crying spells, acute anxiety, and nightmares. A comprehensive study comprising 877,181 participants (including 163,831 who had undergone an abortion) concluded that women who have had an abortion face an 81% increased risk of mental health issues, alongside significantly higher risks of substance abuse (230%) and suicidal behavior (155%).
• Physical harm: Potential complications include secondary infertility, irregular heart rhythm, blood pressure fluctuations, severe migraines, gastrointestinal disorders, hemorrhaging, pelvic pain, and an increased risk of subsequent miscarriages.

Ideally, every conceived child is welcomed with joy; nevertheless, a mother may initially feel overwhelmed or dismayed at the prospect of a child. Even so, abortion is never the proper solution:

• Following an abortion, the mother's psychological distress invariably intensifies.
• Children who are initially unplanned almost always become deeply loved and cherished.
• When a child causes hardship to a family (for example, struggling with addiction), the response is never to end his life. Society rightly seeks supportive interventions instead.

This is undoubtedly one of the most agonizing circumstances, where the pregnancy may feel deeply distressing. An abortion might appear to offer an immediate escape from the trauma of the violation. However, it does not resolve the trauma:

• The mother will carry another profound burden of sorrow upon realizing she ended the life of her own child.
• The outcome of abortion is deeply unjust: the rapist is sentenced to prison, the innocent baby is sentenced to death, and the mother is left traumatized by the loss of her child. A just system penalizes solely the perpetrator—never the innocent child, nor the mother (cf. Victoria Gillick).

The child resides within the mother, but is not part of her body:

• At birth, the mother loses none of her own organs or tissues.
• From fertilization, the embryo possesses a complete, distinct genetic code that makes him or her a biologically unique individual.

The mother's womb is the child's first home, where the infant is meant to be nurtured and protected by the one who loves him.

No one desires an abortion for its own sake. It is chosen solely because it presents a swift, radical elimination of an immediate crisis. Yet taking the life of one's own child is so tragic that it should be deemed unthinkable. Any other supportive measure is preferable to this.

Among various possibilities, consider a few graphic analogies where problems might be eliminated swiftly, yet through horrific means:

• Ending the life of an elderly relative to inherit her estate would swiftly resolve financial hardship, yet it is completely out of the question.
• Eliminating an overbearing in-law might swiftly end domestic friction, yet it is unthinkable.
• Silencing an unruly child by cutting out his tongue would immediately end verbal abuse, yet it is morally intolerable.

The only humane course of action is to provide real assistance to both mother and child: to establish networks, policies, and practical support that protect and uplift them both.