Matters of Life and Death: Catholic Church Stance

Flashcards summarizing the Catholic Church's stance on abortion-related issues.

Abortion (Catholic Church view)

The Catholic Church opposes and condemns any and all direct abortions, regardless of the circumstances of conception.

Moral Absolute

Catholics believe that willingly, knowingly, and deliberately committing evil is never justifiable, no matter how good the intention or noble the cause.

Conception (Catholic Church view)

The Church teaches that human life is created and begins at the moment of conception when God infuses an immortal soul.

Emergency Surgery during Pregnancy

It's considered morally permissible to perform necessary surgery on a pregnant woman, even if it results in the unintended abortion of the fetus.

Ectopic Pregnancy Treatment

The immediate removal of the fallopian tube in an ectopic pregnancy is permissible as long as the unborn is never directly killed.

Rape/Incest and Abortion (Catholic Church view)

Even in cases of rape or incest, the Catholic Church doesn't consider it justifiable to directly kill the unborn child, who is also considered an innocent victim.

Contraceptives after Rape

The Church permits a female rape victim to be given a contraceptive (anovulent) only if ovulation or conception haven't yet taken place and the drug given isn't an abortifacient.

Abortifacient

A so-called contraceptive that doesn't prevent fertilization and conception but rather removes, destroys, or prevents implantation of the embryo.