S
St_Francis
Guest
The issue of the timing of ensoulment is usually brought up by those who want to argue that because *some *theologians *proposed *centuries ago that ensoulment occcurred after conception that abortion should be legal. This is obviously a tactic used for centuries by those who were trying to justify the use of abortion since the Church has addressed it for quite a long time.I agree it says no abortion at any time.
I note the Sacred Congregation considered it important enough to discuss. It indicates it’s important enough to have been discussed for hundreds of years, and important enough that the discussion continues. I also note many people in Catholic circles say ensoulment takes place at conception. They also mistakenly claim that is a certain teaching of the Church. We can find some on this thread. The discussion started after people in Catholic circles made the claim. Apparently they, too, must think it’s important. It looks like both the Sacred Congregation, many people in Catholic circles, and some on this board think discussion of ensoulment is important.
The sattement is the Church’s resolution of the issue. The Church states that we cannot know with certainty when ensoulment occurs, but the timing doesn’t matter and the issue is irrelevant.