Eastern Orthodox and Abortion

[Rence]

Please note: with all due respect, I’m not asking for anyone’s opinion because that will just cause all kinds of drama. I’m just asking for a specific teaching.

I have a question about the Eastern Orthodox religion’s teachings on abortion in the case that a woman’s life is in danger. I thought the teachings in the Latin and EO Catholic Churches were the same. But someone pointed me to this article in which it states that the EO Chuch:

The Orthodox Church does not condone abortion for she holds human life as sacred. Only in the case of therapeutic abortion when the life of the mother is endangered can the possibility of abortion be considered, and then too only in consultation with the priest, physician, mother and the father.

orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/ethics/john_thermon_abortion.htm

This was prompted by another aricle’s comment section in which an EO Catholic stated this:

2nd thing of all, i’m not out to bash the catholic church. i’m an eastern orthodox christian, which is much older than roman catholicsm and we follow the teachings of the early church fathers. In a situation when the mothers life is in danger and terminating the pregnancy whether “directly or indirectly” will increase the risk of survival (and that is known only by doctors), it should be done, end of story. That is the view of the earliest/oldest christianity out there. The nun was right in her decision and the bishop WAS WRONG in exocommunicating her in the 1st place, regardless of whether he reversed it. It should not have even been an issue of debate. This shows that some (not all) bishops/leaders in the catholic church have got their theologic principles/priorities out of order.

amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/21/nun-excommunicated-for-approving-life-saving-abortion/

Can someone please answer my question? Note, I’m really not interested in opinions, just what the EO Church teaches. Thanks

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

I recall hearing in either my moral theology or Christian marriage class that the Roman Catholic Church also permits abortion when the woman’s life is in danger. The only source I have off the top of my head is my professor, whose name I don’t think I should give out in the event that he is wrong.

In looking at the CCC, paragraph 2271, it states that, “Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or as a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law.”

I’ve never heard of an abortion, directly intended, being a life-saving procedure for a woman. However, there can be other life-saving procedures that have abortion as a side-effect. For example, say a pregnant woman discovers she has a treatable form of cancer, but that the treatment would kill the baby. If the woman should decide to go ahead with the treatment, then abortion would be neither direct, an end, or a means, but rather a side-effect of the treatment.

That’s the teaching for Catholics, at least to the best of my knowledge. I don’t know that Orthodoxy has ever made a definitive declaration on this issue. I presume that they follow a similar line of thought in this situation.

 

[Aramis]

Every Eastern Orthodox teaching I’ve seen is that abortion for any reason is a major sin. They all leave birth control to a decision of the coupe with their pastor. But they have not (can not) dogmatize this.

 

[cymonk]

As far as I have ever known (sorry dont have time to look up some links)… abortion is not permissable in any way as you are intending to kill a child. The exception comes in when you are doing a surgery to save the mother and the child is “conincidentally” killed as a by-product of that surgery. An example of this is when the egg attaches to a wall futher up than the uterus. It it would eventually rupture and kill the mother.

Hope that helps.

Cymonk

 

[Rence]

Ok, so now I’m thinking that the article referenced was lacking in some pertinent information, and was very general in it’s statement. But I’ll wait to see what others have to say.

Thank you, those of you who answered so far

 

[boatbearer]

Just a quick point of fact. The none of the Orthodox state churches are older than the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church.

 

[Luvs2Learn]

Correction to both: Both the Orthodox and Latin church were the same church before the great schism of 1054 so neither is “older” then the other. They are for ease of discussion fraternal twins.

 

[wynd]

Just a quick point of fact. The none of the Orthodox state churches are older than the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church.

1. 
   *]This is incorrect
   *]How does this relate in any way to the thread topic? In case you missed it, it is “Eastern Orthodox and Abortion.”

 

[WetCatechumen]

1. 
   *]This is incorrect
   *]How does this relate in any way to the thread topic? In case you missed it, it is “Eastern Orthodox and Abortion.”

1. 1. The Roman Church has a succession and continuity as an institution that makes it older than any of the national churches of Orthodoxy. This is certainly true. The first nation that Orthdoxy was the state religion of was the Roman Empire, and its continuity ended in 1453. Whether or not Roman Catholicism constitutes a novel heresy is a different matter.
   2. Someone brought it up by claiming that Orthdoxy was older than Catholicism. It’s a pointless debate.

 

[Hesychios]

1. The Roman Church has a succession and continuity as an institution that makes it older than any of the national churches of Orthodoxy. This is certainly true. The first nation that Orthdoxy was the state religion of was the Roman Empire, and its continuity ended in 1453. Whether or not Roman Catholicism constitutes a novel heresy is a different matter.

Wrong, and insulting.

1. Someone brought it up by claiming that Orthdoxy was older than Catholicism. It’s a pointless debate.

I don’t see it.

 

[mardukm]

1. The Roman Church has a succession and continuity as an institution that makes it older than any of the national churches of Orthodoxy. This is certainly true. The first nation that Orthdoxy was the state religion of was the Roman Empire, and its continuity ended in 1453.

Actually, Armenia holds the honor of being the first State to accept Christianity.

As someone else pointed out, Orthodoxy and Catholicism were one at this stage of history. If you connect Orthodoxy with nationalism, then the same goes for Catholicism in these early centuries.

Blessings

 

[cymonk]

My apologies Rence for people going off in different directions without addressing your questions. I do not have time to research it yet, but hope to this weekend. In the mean time, perhaps one of these other more experienced members will come up with a good answer for you.

Cymonk

 

[Rence]

Thank you Cymonk I was going to call one of the EO Churches and ask, but it felt awkward to introduce onesself to a priest and ask these questions without even being EO or even knowing him.

 

[ayliana]

The Orthodox Church follows the teachings of the Bible, which tells as that life begins at conception, ie. before birth. This is clearly shown by the visit of Mary to Elizabeth, who was pregnant. When Mary entered the house and greeted Elizabeth, “the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Luke 1:40-44)

This event in the New Testament reveals the sanctity of human life, right from the moment of conception, and not only from birth.

This does not, however, mean that any woman who has had an abortion is going straight to Hell, but it does mean that God regards all human life as sacred and as being a “temple of the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

The Orthodox Church therefore strictly condems “abortion on demand” but applies compassion and understanding in cases where exceptional circumstances might exist, such as rape or where the life of the mother is at risk. The relevant bishop or spiritual father is usually called upon to provide advice and guidance in these cases.

---

Used Car Parts
Used Auto Parts

 

[Rence]

Ayliana — so the quote in my first post was correct?

 

[cymonk]

Rence,

I finally had some time to research this. Please note that I am not well versed in EO theology and have only done limited research. Please correct anything that is wrong with the post.

I did not find a singlular resource that teaches with authority within the EO church. But I am sure there is something of the sorts like our cathechism, and perhaps one of the other members can help by posting it.

This link may be helpful to read:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_and_abortion

In that article, it says:

The Eastern Orthodox Church
The Eastern Orthodox Church believes that life begins at conception, and that abortion (including the use of abortifacient drugs) is the taking of a human life. However, there are exceptions. The Basis of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church states that while abortion can never be seen as morally neutral, in some cases economy can be used:
In case of a direct threat to the life of a mother if her pregnancy continues, especially if she has other children, it is recommended to be lenient in the pastoral practice. The woman who interrupted pregnancy in this situation shall not be excluded from the Eucharistic communion with the Church provided that she has fulfilled the canon of Penance assigned by the priest who takes her confession.[11]
The document also acknowledges that abortions often are a result of poverty and helplessness and that the Church and society should “work out effective measures to protect motherhood.” All in all, while the Eastern Church lets the individual decide for herself whether or not they want to perform the action, it considers it a sin that requires confession and absolution and performance of a canon of Penance.”

The source for this posting is in another language that I can’t read. As far as an English teaching resource, I am not sure there is one. In looking into it, the EO Catholic that posted most likely belongs to the SCOBA (Standing Conference of Canonical Bishops in the Americas). SCOBA seems to be their version of the USSCB (though it seems they have less authority, and more “suggestions”. Here is the only decent document I could find from their site: scoba.us/resources/orthodox-catholic/respectforlife.html. It is not as comprehensive as I would hope.

Even though wiki states that there is a leniency with it according to this teaching, I question whether this is indeed a universal teaching across the EO. I would imagine some of the “finer” details of direct/indirect abortions have not really be answered on a universal basis. So the EO Catholic who posted your quote may be allowed to think differently than some of the other EO Catholics. Or the other possibility is that the EO Catholic was not aware of his true church teaching (a cafeteria Catholics of sorts).

Hope my answer helps a little as I only had limited time to look into it. At the very least, maybe it will strike up some other members to post better answers.

Pax Christi,
Cymonk

Some other links that may be of interest:

Actual statements from the diocese including a Q and A about it:
diocesephoenix.org/main.html

Article from the Catholic Sun:
catholicsun.org/2010/may/18/NUN-EXCOMMUNICATED.html

Wiki about Sister’s Excommunication:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excommunication_of_Margaret_McBride#cite_note-Statements_from_the_Diocese_of_Phoenix_and_St._Joseph.27s-6

News article on the statement from St Joseph’s:
azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2010/05/14/20100514stjoseph0515bishop.html

 

[Formosus]

Ayliana — so the quote in my first post was correct?

Aliyana looks to be an advertising bot. I’d just ignore what she says.

 

[cymonk]

Aliyana looks to be an advertising bot. I’d just ignore what she says.

With 3 posts? She looks legit… although not sure why she has car parts on her signature.

 

[Rence]

Hope my answer helps a little as I only had limited time to look into it. At the very least, maybe it will strike up some other members to post better answers.

It appears that you’ve confirmed what I thought originally. Thank you very much

 

[wynd]

Interesting article: Russian Church calls for tougher abortion laws