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<<  Fifth through the Eighth CenturiesSpacer>>

The Early Church Fathers on Abortion.

 

  • Early Church Fathers
  • From the Scriptures

 

 

  1. St. Augustine of Hippo, (A.D. 354-428)
St. Augustine of Hippo, (A.D. 354-428), North African; born in Tagaste in A.D. 354, baptized in Milan in A.D. 387, ordained a priest in A.D. 391 and appointed bishop of Hippo in A.D. 395, Augustine is one of our greatest theologians. His numerous works display genius of the highest order, and have ever had great weight in the Christian churches. He is also a Doctor of the Church.

Therefore brothers, you see how perverse they are and hastening wickedness, who are immature, they seek abortion of the conception before the birth; they are those who tell us, "I do not see that which you say must be believed".

Sermon 126, 12 [A.D. 411]

Sometimes, indeed, this lustful cruelty, or if you please, cruel lust, resorts to such extravagant methods as to use poisonous drugs to secure barrenness; or else, if unsuccessful in this, to destroy the conceived seed by some means previous to birth, preferring that its offspring should rather perish than receive vitality; or if it was advancing to life within the womb, should be slain before it was born.

On Marriage and Concupiscence 1:17:15 [A.D. 420]

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Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person — among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life. Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law:

You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.

— Tertullian (A.D. 160-218)

Even non-Christian writers raised objections to abortion.

        • Ovid [B.C. 43-A.D. 17] refers to it as warfare.
        • Juvenal [A.D 67-127] calls it murder.

And so did the Early Church.

Note: Are you a woman of an age who regrets your abortion? Check out this site.

 


The Church's Scriptures that implicitly prohibit Abortion:


Job contemplates the origin of his life


8 Thy hands fashioned and made me; and now thou dost turn about and destroy me. 9 Remember that thou hast made me of clay; and wilt thou turn me to dust again? 10 Didst thou not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese? 11 Thou didst clothe me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. 12 Thou hast granted me life and steadfast love; and thy care has preserved my spirit.


Job 10:8-12

 

Since my mother bore me thou hast been my God


10 Upon thee was I cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me thou hast been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is none to help.


Psalms 22:10-11

 

All that are born from conception in our mother's womb to natural death are wonderfully created

14 I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works! Thou knowest me right well; 15 my frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth.


Psalms 139:14-15

 

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you

 

4 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Jeremiah 1:4-5

 

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