Topic: What does the Catholic Church think about killing?

Date originally posted: March 10, 2002

Source of this posting: Moderator response to emailed question

Moderator who originally posted this source: J. Ruffo

Question:  If the Catholic Church Teaches that abortion is killing and or murder of a human being than why doesn't it, and or the catholic layity, act out in an appropriate manner? I site a hypothetical  to further explain my question: If any authority were to pick a age group of children to be killed, for whatever reason, the church, and if not they the layity ,would in my thinking, be so outraged that they would  come to the victims defense and up in arms if necessary. Please explain to me why these two senarios should differ in the church's and layit's response.

Answer: 

Dear David, 

I’m not really sure I understand your question/s.  The Catholic Church teaches that abortion is always wrong.  Members of the Catholic hierarchy and the Catholic laity have lobbied against the practice of abortion for years, using every legal (and sometimes illegal) means at their disposal.  The battle against abortion continues. 

When some other atrocity takes place, such as the murder of new born females in China, hate crimes against African Americans or gays, the Church, including the laity, also cries out in rage for justice.  But I get the impression from your note that you feel more should be done by the Church, including her laity, against the evil of abortion and other crimes against humanity that happen.  If more of us, in our little portions of the world, did all we can within our power to further respect for life from the first moment of conception to natural death, hopefully our good example would influence others to value life the same way. 

 Father John