User:Ssophiabasta/Catholic Church and abortion

See also: [[Stem cell controversy]]

See also: [[Stem cell controversy]]

The Church considers the destruction of any embryo to be equivalent to abortion, and thus opposes [[embryonic stem cell research]]. '''According to the Seven Themes of Catholic Church Justice,'''{{Cite web |title=Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching {{!}} USCCB |url=https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/seven-themes-of-catholic-social-teaching |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=www.usccb.org |language=en}} '''the first theme is the life and dignity of the Human Person. The Church emphasizes that every person, from the moment of conception, is deemed unique in the eyes of God and has a right to innate dignity. Therefore, no human or human quality can revoke an individual's rights. Due to this, [[Abortifacient|abortifacients]] such as emergency contraception (EC), IVFs (In Vitro Fertilization)'''{{Cite web |title=In vitro fertilization (IVF) - Mayo Clinic |url=https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/in-vitro-fertilization/about/pac-20384716 |access-date=2026-04-20 |website=www.mayoclinic.org |language=en}}''', and hormonal contraception are deemed a form of abortion because they deny an embryo the right to life.'''{{Cite web |title=What Catholic Social Teaching Says About the Status of Embryos Part One |url=https://www.cathmed.org/the-pulse/what-catholic-social-teaching-says-about-the-status-of-embryos/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=The Pulse of Catholic Medicine |language=en-US}}

The Church considers the destruction of any embryo to be equivalent to abortion, and thus opposes [[embryonic stem cell research]]. '''According to the Seven Themes of Catholic Church Justice,'''{{Cite web |title=Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching {{!}} USCCB |url=https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/seven-themes-of-catholic-social-teaching |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=www.usccb.org |language=en}} '''the first theme is the life and dignity of the Human Person. The Church emphasizes that every person, from the moment of conception, is deemed unique in the eyes of God and has a right to innate dignity. Therefore, no human or human quality can revoke an individual's rights. Due to this, [[Abortifacient|abortifacients]] such as emergency contraception (EC), IVFs (In Vitro Fertilization),{{Cite web |title=In vitro fertilization (IVF) - Mayo Clinic |url=https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/in-vitro-fertilization/about/pac-20384716 |access-date=2026-04-20 |website=www.mayoclinic.org |language=en}} and hormonal contraception are deemed a form of abortion because they deny an embryo the right to life.'''{{Cite web |title=What Catholic Social Teaching Says About the Status of Embryos Part One |url=https://www.cathmed.org/the-pulse/what-catholic-social-teaching-says-about-the-status-of-embryos/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=The Pulse of Catholic Medicine |language=en-US}}

'''Furthermore, embryonic stem cell research is highly opposed in the Catholic faith. The action of utilizing embryonic stem cells to conduct experiments on and refute their right to live is a direct opposition to the Catholic Church. It is seen as "dehumanizing" in the eyes of Catholicism, and using any human person without their consent as "body parts" is against their moral responsibility.'''{{Cite web |title=What Catholic Social Teaching Says About the Status of Embryos Part Two |url=https://www.cathmed.org/the-pulse/what-catholic-social-teaching-says-about-the-status-of-embryos-2/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=The Pulse of Catholic Medicine |language=en-US}} '''IVF is a strong example of this belief.''' '''Parents or surrogates who receive IVF face many challenges, such as an unwanted embryo due to genetic imperfections, undesired sex traits, or unintentional death due to the storage of IVF treatment. These actions deny the embryo the unique experience of living and the innate dignity through their development. The [[Catholic social teaching|Catholic Social Teaching]] furthers this moral obligation in the understanding of God's gift of human life and the worthiness of respect to be a part of the human family.'''

'''Furthermore, embryonic stem cell research is highly opposed in the Catholic faith. The action of utilizing embryonic stem cells to conduct experiments on and refute their right to live is a direct opposition to the Catholic Church. It is seen as "dehumanizing" in the eyes of Catholicism, and using any human person without their consent as "body parts" is against their moral responsibility.'''{{Cite web |title=What Catholic Social Teaching Says About the Status of Embryos Part Two |url=https://www.cathmed.org/the-pulse/what-catholic-social-teaching-says-about-the-status-of-embryos-2/ |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=The Pulse of Catholic Medicine |language=en-US}} '''IVF is a strong example of this belief.''' '''Parents or surrogates who receive IVF face many challenges, such as an unwanted embryo due to genetic imperfections, undesired sex traits, or unintentional death due to the storage of IVF treatment. These actions deny the embryo the unique experience of living and the innate dignity through their development. The [[Catholic social teaching|Catholic Social Teaching]] furthers this moral obligation in the understanding of God's gift of human life and the worthiness of respect to be a part of the human family.'''