Our first topic for the fourth quarter in Christian Morality is "Choosing Life over Death" and one of its focus is on the violations of human life. We have discussed, reflected and learned on six violations of human life.
I making some notes for my students so they can review on these points. The first I have made is on abortion and I am making five more to complete the six. So keep yourselves posted and share these notes to your classmates.
xx,
Karen
Abortion
Human
Person has immeasurable worth and dignity because he was made in the image and
likeness of the Author of Life. We are obliged to respect the life of every
human person in all its stages. However, everyday we are confronted with mind-set, attitudes and acts that oppose a
true reverence for life by judging the worth of persons based merely on their
efficiency, looking at the weakest members of our society as obstacles to
freedom, curbing population growth, violence, legalizing direct attack against
life and being apathetic to the situations of our society.
An
example of the culture of death is abortion. Abortion is not just a moral issue but
also social, legal, medical, and emotional. It is the “termination of pregnancy
at a gestational age or by a method that ordinarily precludes survival of the
embryo or fetus” [Genovesi, SJ]. Pregnant women submit to this process due to
unwanted pregnancy, financial problems or abuse. Some side effects of abortion
are: sterility, perforation of the cervix and feelings of depression and self
hatred related to post-abortion syndrome.
The Catholic Church on
Abortion
- “the deliberate and direct killing, by whatever means it is carried out [surgical or chemical], of a human being in the initial phase of his or her existence, extending from conception to birth”
- “once fertilization or conception has occurred, the resulting living organism, variously described as zygote, pre-embryo, or embryo, is to be respected in an absolute way and be treated as a person”
- Fertilized ovum = a person
- “The one who will be a man is already one”
- The human being is to be respected and treated as a person from the moment of conception.
- Vatican II, GS 51 states: God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to humans, the noble mission of safeguarding life, and they must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with utmost care from the moment of conception; abortion and infanticide (intentional killing of the infant) are abominable crimes.
Reflection
The Challenge
- How can we refrain from resorting to abortion?
- What will you tell a friend who is planning to undergo abortion?
The Challenge
Our call is to be like Mother
Mary. She showed us “the incomparable
model of how life should be welcomed and cared for” [EV 102]. We can give our
“yes” to life by caring for the youngest member in our society, helping women
against the temptation to having an abortion and help in educating people about
the true and Side effects on the woman:
REFERENCES AND RESOURCES
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o Miranda,
Noel P. and Javier, Philip S. III. Called to Follow Christ in True Freedom.
Ateneo de Manila University: SIBS Publishing House, Inc., 2006
o Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines. Catechism for Filipino Catholics. 2006
o Astorga, Ma.
Christina A., Ph.D. Living the Faith Option: Christian Morality.
Quezon City: FNB Educational, Inc.2005
o Vincent J.
Genovesi, S.J. In Pursuit of Love
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