Life begins at conception

I refer to the letter by Alexander Cortis regarding his "abortion dilemma".

He claims he was taught that life begins when a baby draws its first breath. I can't imagine who would teach a "fact" so opposed to the position of the Catholic Church, particularly in a country that is predominantly Catholic! The Church has always taught that life begins at conception. And it has affirmed this fact in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (par. 2274): "Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being", as well as in encyclicals like Humanae Vitae and Evangelium Vitae and other Church documents.

I attended Catholic schools in the US from 1951 through post-graduate work. Never was I taught that life begins at birth rather than at conception. On the contrary, it was emphasised over and over again that the soul becomes part of the body and life as a human being begins when conception takes place. Perhaps Mr Cortis misunderstood what was being taught. I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

His claim that abortion "did not exist" is also wrong. It existed not as a right as it exists now, but as an illegal act done in a shadow of shame. The issue of when life begins was as important then as it is now. And what was taught by the Church is no different than it is now - life begins at conception and the taking of any human life is gravely wrong.

Abortion has been condemned by the Church as early as the second century in the Didache, made a crime in the fourth century and continues to be condemned today. Why? Because the foetus is a human being and the killing of a human being is wrong.

Mr Cortis claims that he is not in favour of abortion but thinks people should have choices and make their own mistakes. This is the tired argument of someone who does not want to take a stand in so serious a matter. He wants to hear from someone with real knowledge, but nothing "entrenched in dogma" and "interspersed with chapter and verse".

Where else would we find the true teachings of the Church on this matter if we did not look to the infallible dogmas of the Church? The immorality of abortion is not a matter for endless debate and tiresome discussion. It is entrenched in the teachings of the Church. Look to the fifth commandment and do some study on the matter. It will not take much effort to find that the Church teaches and has always taught the life begins at conception.

I am astounded that anyone who calls himself a Catholic would not know this!