Infallible teaching on abortion?

[jess7396]

I have gotten myself into it on another board. I was talking about how abortion is a clear, undisputed evil according to the Church (and how the death penalty for example, has not been given the same weight by the Church).

I made it seem (as I believe is true) that the Church’s stance on abortion is complete and unchangeable. Is there anywhere that I can provide proof (links), has the Pope (this Pope or any Pope) spoken infallibly on abortion? I thought (assumed) it had happened.

Help!

TIA!
Patty

 

[dcdurel]

Since the Church is infallible when she teaches, then all Church teachings are true and without error, therefore can’t be changed.
Infallible actually refers to those who teach, not the teaching itself. The teachings of an infallible teacher are true, since the teacher is infallible, and since they are true, they can’t be change. The Pope is also infallible when he teaches as Pope, for all Christians, when defining matters pertaining to faith or morals.
The Church has always taught abortion is a serious or mortal sin in Sacred Tradition, and has reaffirmed that teaching again in the Pope’s encyclicals and in the Catechism. Thus in three different ways, the Church has taught infallibly that abortion is an extremely horrible mortal sin.

 

[mjdonnelly]

From the Catechism:

2271
Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law:

You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.75

God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.76