Abortion Must be Considered Murder

As “mid-term” elections draw near, the pro-abortion camp is trying to  make abortion into an election issue.  The pro-abortion lobby has changed their familiar mantra of “my body, my choice” to “my body, my DECISION.”  The reason for the change is they feel that “choice” is not a strong enough word, it is considered too “fuzzy” as it connotes a choice between two equal prospects.  The decision, in reality is whether to destroy a human life.  By hiding behind such words as “choice” and “decision” they avoid the aspect of life.  Essentially, they are claiming that their “right” to decide is more important than the preservation of life.  They are claiming that they can decide between life and death.  To choose the ending of an innocent and healthy life is MURDER.

We must invoke the Commandments for support of this statement.  Most Biblical scholars argue that the original form each of the commandments were very short injunctions.  The longer versions evolved from homiletic expansions.  The familiar Commandment, DO NOT KILL, is really a mistranslation of the word.  The Hebrew Commandment is simply, LO RATSACH, do not murder.  Murder is a more narrowly defined term than simply “kill”. The original, primitive, meaning is to break another into pieces. Murder is the willful taking of an innocent life.  There are three great exceptions to this command: 1) Self-defense, 2) War, 3) Capital Punishment.  Abortion is not considered to be part of these three groups.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church echoes the Biblical precepts. Several articles speak to murder.

2261; Scripture specifies the prohibition contained in the fifth commandment; “do not slay the innocent and the righteous”.  The deliberate murder of an innocent person is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human being, to the golden rule, and to the holiness of the Creator.  The law forbidding it is universally  valid.  It obliges each and everyone, always and everywhere. 

2263: The legitimate defense of persons and societies is not the exception  to the prohibition against the murder of the innocent that constitutes intentional killing.  “The act of self-defense can have a double-effect: the preservation of one’s life and the killing of the aggressor.  The one is intended, the other is not.

2264: Love toward oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality. Therefore it is legitimate to insist on respect for one's own right to life. Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow:

If a man in self-defense uses more than necessary violence, it will be unlawful: whereas if he repels force with moderation, his defense will be lawful.... Nor is it necessary for salvation that a man omit the act of moderate self-defense to avoid killing the other man, since one is bound to take more care of one's own life than of another's.

2265: Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm. For this reason, those who legitimately hold authority also have the right to use arms to repel aggressors against the civil community entrusted to their responsibility.

2268: The fifth commandment forbids direct and intentional killing as gravely sinful. The murderer and those who cooperate voluntarily in murder commit a sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance.  Infanticide,  fratricide, parricide, and the murder of a spouse are especially grave crimes by reason of the natural bonds which they break. Concern for eugenics or public health cannot justify any murder, even if commanded by public authority. 

Pope Francis, known for his softening of many theological tenets, has had strong words on abortion.  "Abortion is murder... Those who carry out abortions kill," he said.  "At the third week after conception, often even before the mother is aware (of being pregnant), all the organs are already (starting to develop). It is a human life. Period. And this human life has to be respected. It is very clear," he said. "Scientifically, it is a human life," he said.  The new counter to the assertion of life, is to question the “personhood” of the fetus.  The original dissention from the Roe v. Wade decision held that the way to dismantle the verdict was to grant the fetus personhood.

Therefore, President Joe Biden in renewing his pro-abortion agenda, is trying to make the killing of an innocent life, the result of the aborting of the pregnancy, a campaign issue.  As a “devout” Catholic and the President of the United States, a question must be raised; how can he remain faithful to his office and religious faith and advocate for the murder of human life?