Performing an Abortion a Mortal Sin?

[Geremia]

I know that abortion is an “intrinsic evil” and a “moral evil,” but why is not the act of performing an abortion always a mortal sin? I realize that some abortionists truly think they are helping women and that they are not extinguishing a human life, but should not Catholics consider the act of abortion, due to its grave nature, to be mortal sin regardless the intentions? If not, why? Thanks.

 

[Carjack1]

I know that abortion is an “intrinsic evil” and a “moral evil,” but why is not abortion always a mortal sin? I realize that some abortionists truly think they are helping women and that they are not extinguishing a human life, but should not Catholics consider the act of abortion, due to its grave nature, to be mortal sin regardless the intentions? If not, why? Thanks.

They should consider it a sin because it is murder. It is the killing of the innocent.

 

[Caesar517]

It is due to the definition of “mortal sin”. Mortal sin requires three things:

1. Grave matter
2. Full knowlegde
3. Deliberate consent

Murder certainly meets the condition for grave matter. Unless the abortionist does the abortion on accident, that leaves the second condition: does the person committing murder know what they are doing? Do they understand? That may change from one abortionist to another, so we cannot say that such murder is always a mortal sin. If fact, we cannot say that any sin is always mortal sin because there is a possibility that the person doesn’t know what they are really doing.

In the case of abortion, I believe it is almost always a mortal sin for the abortionist and mortal significantly less often for the woman, as many are presured into it and ill-informed.

You can read more about the difference between mortal and venial sin here.

 

[1ke]

It is always gravely wrong. That is objective criteria.

Culpability for sin has depends upon full knowledge and free will.

 

[rosarygirl7]

All murder is mortal sin except in self-defense. Abortion is murder, defined as deliberately ending a human life.

 

[Holly3278]

All murder is mortal sin except in self-defense. Abortion is murder, defined as deliberately ending a human life.

Do you mean that all murder is grave sin? I mean, I’m honestly not sure but doesn’t the 3 criteria for mortal sin always apply?

 

[Caesar517]

All murder is mortal sin except in self-defense. Abortion is murder, defined as deliberately ending a human life.

Murder is grave matter, be we can’t say that something is *always *a mortal sin, as I explained above. Read the Catechism link I provided in my above post.

 

[TLM08]

It is due to the definition of “mortal sin”. Mortal sin requires three things:

1. Grave matter
2. Full knowlegde
3. Deliberate consent

Murder certainly meets the condition for grave matter. Unless the abortionist does the abortion on accident, that leaves the second condition: does the person committing murder know what they are doing? Do they understand? That may change from one abortionist to another, so we cannot say that such murder is always a mortal sin. If fact, we cannot say that any sin is always mortal sin because there is a possibility that the person doesn’t know what they are really doing.

In the case of abortion, I believe it is almost always a mortal sin for the abortionist and mortal significantly less often for the woman, as many are presured into it and ill-informed.

You can read more about the difference between mortal and venial sin here.

Following this criteria, Adolph Hitler did not commit mortal sin when he killed six to ten million people. Nor are the September 11th attackers guilty of mortal sin. These people believed that their acts were righteous.

 

[mlchance]

Following this criteria, Adolph Hitler did not commit mortal sin when he killed six to ten million people. Nor are the September 11th attackers guilty of mortal sin. These people believed that their acts were righteous.

Not necessarily. One can be culpable for a failure to not have a properly formed conscience. Likewise, failure to live in accordance with natural law can render salvation impossible.

The bottom line is this: Threads that try to judge the consciences of other people are always ultimately pointless. There is only one conscience I can judge, and that’s my own.

– Mark L. Chance.

 

[Caesar517]

Not necessarily. One can be culpable for a failure to not have a properly formed conscience. Likewise, failure to live in accordance with natural law can render salvation impossible.

The bottom line is this: Threads that try to judge the consciences of other people are always ultimately pointless. There is only one conscience I can judge, and that’s my own.

– Mark L. Chance.

Excellent respose, you beat me to it.

 

[redrosetea]

Murder is an unlawful and immoral act…pleading ignorance might not make you exempt from doing a sinful act

The abortionists are not ignorant , uneducated, people…they are people who have turned their back on God
in favor of worshiping at the altar of pleasing themselves, and giving themselves the power of life and death, which only belongs to the Father

 

[royal_archer]

I know that abortion is an “intrinsic evil” and a “moral evil,” but why is not the act of performing an abortion always a mortal sin? I realize that some abortionists truly think they are helping women and that they are not extinguishing a human life, but should not Catholics consider the act of abortion, due to its grave nature, to be mortal sin regardless the intentions? If not, why? Thanks.

I see only one moral exception: C-Sections. They are artificial attempts to end the pregnancy prior to a natural birth. C-Sections are moreal because they make every effort to save the life of the child. I would expand the C-section exception to any attempt to save the mother’s life where the cumulative probability for survival for both the mother and child are significantly greater than than allowing the pregnancy to continue toward a natural birth and every reasonable effort is made to save both.

 

[Seatuck]

I see only one moral exception: C-Sections. They are artificial attempts to end the pregnancy prior to a natural birth. C-Sections are moreal because they make every effort to save the life of the child. I would expand the C-section exception to any attempt to save the mother’s life where the cumulative probability for survival for both the mother and child are significantly greater than than allowing the pregnancy to continue toward a natural birth and every reasonable effort is made to save both.

There are more. Medical interventions such as taking chemo therapy or the removing of a cancerous uterus are not considered mortal sins via abortion if they result in the death of the fetus. As long as the intention is a medical intervention to treat an illness in the mother and not a direct abortion it falls within the moral realm. The church has been clear on this. We don’t even call these abortions. Nor should an emergency C-Section.

 

[DustinM]

I know that abortion is an “intrinsic evil” and a “moral evil,” but why is not the act of performing an abortion always a mortal sin? I realize that some abortionists truly think they are helping women and that they are not extinguishing a human life, but should not Catholics consider the act of abortion, due to its grave nature, to be mortal sin regardless the intentions? If not, why? Thanks.

There are three major requirements for moral sin

1. It must be a grave matter
2. It must be done with full knowledge of the sin and the gravity of the offense
3. It must be done with deliberate and complete consent.

I think for some abortion performers, number 2 is iffy. It’s possible that it’s not a moral sin for some because of a belief by the performer that the person being killed isn’t actually person.
We don’t know for sure because we cannot read their minds.

EDIT: Wow, this post wasn’t necessary at all, after reading the rest of the thread! (That’s a good thing though.)

 

[bilop]

1. It must be done with full knowledge of the sin and the gravity of the offense

Remember, full knowledge just means you know the Church teaches it’s wrong. You don’t have to agree.

I’m sure all abortionists know the Catholic Church teaches that abortion is murder, and sinful. That’s enough for the mortal sin criterion.

Disagreeing with the Church never makes your actions non-sinful. Only lack of knowledge of the teaching.

God Bless

 

[mlchance]

Disagreeing with the Church never makes your actions non-sinful. Only lack of knowledge of the teaching.

And lack of knowledge itself can be morally culpable, meaning that the action may still be a mortal sin.

– Mark L. Chance.

 

[bilop]

And lack of knowledge itself can be morally culpable, meaning that the action may still be a mortal sin.

– Mark L. Chance.

Correct. I was just making the point that, even if you think the baby is not a baby, it doesn’t prevent you from sinning mortally. As long as you know the Church teaching, it doesn’t matter what you think, in terms of agreeing or disagreeing, as far as culpability goes.

God Bless