Standing for Life

  • The Concept of Life in Catholic Teaching

    • Every human life is uniquely willed by God and created in His image, demanding respect and protection from conception until natural death.

    • Key issues include abortion, artificial conception, genetic engineering, euthanasia, suicide, capital punishment, poverty, human trafficking, and racism.

    • This principle guides moral decisions and is foundational for justice.

Abortion

  • Definition and Church Stance

    • Abortion is the deliberate termination of pregnancy, ending the life of an unborn child.

    • The Catholic Church opposes intentional abortion at any stage.

    • A medical procedure indirectly causing the child's death to save the mother, where the child's death is not the primary intent, is morally acceptable.

  • Beginning of Human Life

    • Sacred human life begins at conception, supported by modern biology (unique DNA, potential for adult development, early milestones like heartbeat at 21 days and capacity to feel pain at 18-20 weeks).

    • A human's value is independent of developmental stage or circumstances of conception.

  • Rights of the Unborn

    • A woman's bodily autonomy argument does not negate the unborn child's distinct human rights.

    • Compassion and support (pregnancy coaching, financial planning, counseling) are urged for women facing unplanned pregnancies.

    • Love and healing are essential for women post-abortion, with programs like Project Rachel offering aid.

  • Message of Mercy

    • Pope Francis emphasizes God's mercy and forgiveness for those who repent regarding abortion decisions.

Other Beginning-of-Life Moral Issues

  • Artificial Conception

    • Techniques like IVF, artificial insemination, and surrogate motherhood are opposed as they conflict with the dignity of sexuality; children should be created through the loving union of husband and wife.

    • The Church sympathizes with infertile couples and supports research for natural conception.

  • Prenatal Testing

    • Permissible if it safeguards and heals the child without harm to the embryo.

    • Morally wrong if intended for abortion decisions.

  • Genetic Engineering

    • Manipulations to create predetermined qualities (e.g., eye color) violate human uniqueness and are unacceptable.

    • Stem-cell research using aborted embryos is also unacceptable.

  • Moral Principle

    • Technological capability does not justify moral action; morality must align with correctness, not mere possibility.

End-of-Life Issues

  • Acceptance of Euthanasia and Suicide

    • Pope Saint John Paul II linked the rise of euthanasia and suicide to a