>Errancy listers:
>
>Lurking for some weeks ...
>
>Curious as to the 'biblical' source of condemnation for abortion.=20
Historically there hasn't been any. From a long ago posting:
Subj: Catholic Abortion Mythology
Date: 94-11-20 20:53:17 EST
=46rom: ricks@aztec.inre.asu.edu
To:SECHUM-L@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU
=46rom: ricks@aztec.inre.asu.edu (RICK SHUMAKER)
Sender: SECHUM-L@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU (Free Inquiry's - Secular
Humanist Discussion Group)
Reply-to: ricks@aztec.inre.asu.edu
To: SECHUM-L@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU (Multiple recipients of list
SECHUM-L)
A common Catholic claim is that their abortion position has
been unwavering. For instance, a priest recently claimed in
the leading Phoenix newspaper that the Catholic Church had
maintained a "consistent position on abortion for the last
2,000 years" It's not true.
Their current position, that abortion is murder from
conception on, is actually a relatively recent one.
=46or virtually all its history (excepting for three years
starting in 1588 when a pope changed the rules, which his
successor rescinded), until the late 19th century, the
Catholic Church held abortions to be penalty-free until
"ensoulment." That is, 40 days after conception for males,
80 for females. (The reasoning for that difference is
enlightening, too.) In practice, since there was no way of
determining the sex of the fetus, abortion was exempt from
punishment for the first 80 days. The current policy has
been in effect only since 1869.
=46or more, see Uta Ranke-Heinemann's book, _Eunuchs for the
Kingdom of Heaven_ (pp. 75, 211, 249). Heinemann is a
Catholic theologian/scholar. It's a great book for learning
of Catholic church history (read: hypocrisy, manipulation of
doctrine) regarding celibacy, abortion, sexuality, women's
rights and more. That history ain't pretty. The book is
referenced, has an index, and is out in paperback.
---end quoted materal. And a response from a fundi, quoting
non-biblical sources:
=46rom : WILLIAM CHILDRESS
To : LARRY SITES =20
Subj : Aborticide!!!
LS>Hey fundi, why don't you check the historical rules of your own
religion!
>Until 1588, abortion wasn't killing till after "ensoulment", which
happened
>in typical biblical sexist fashion at 40 days for male fetus and 80
days
>for female fetus. This "truth" was endorsed by no less than Thomas
Aquinas
>till pope Sixtus V tried to change god's mind by outlawing it.
Three years
>later Gregory XIV straightened god out again by making abortion
legal and
>noting that ensoulment happened at 40 days for both sexes. Abortion
was ok
>with the church till a mere 135 years ago when Pius IX changed
god's mind
>again and also had god teach him the dogma of papal infallibility
and
>immaculate conception. All these facts are reported in the Mar/Apr
94 issue
>of that heathen magazine _The Humanist_ on page 43's article "What
>Happened to Original Sin".
=20
Perhaps you are the one in need of an education! Have you ever
heard of the Didache? The Didache was a compilation of Apostolic moral
teachings that appeared at the end of the first century. The following
appears within it:
=20
There are two ways: the way of life and the way of death and
the difference between these two ways is great. Therefore, do
not murder a child by abortion or kill the newborn infant.
=20
Source: Didache, 1.1; 2.2.
=20
Why not examine the Epistle of Barnabas, an early second
century theological tract, highly regarded by the first Christian
communities? Examine the following:
=20
You shall love your neighbor more than your own life.
You shall not slay a child by abortion. You shall not
kill that which has already been generated.
=20
Source: Epistle of Barnabas, 19.5.
=20
Maybe you might consider what the second century judicial
theorist and Christian apologist Athenagoras, in a letter to Emperor
Marcus Aurelius, wrote:
=20
We say that women who induce abortions are murderers,
and will have to give an account of it to God. The fetus
in the womb is a living being and therefore the object
of God's care.
=20
Source: A Plea for the Christians, 35.6.
=20
In the third century, the sage pastor and theologian, Clement
of Alexandria, stated:
=20
Our whole life can proceed according to God's perfect plan
only if we gain dominion over our desires, practicing continence from
the beginning instead of destroying through perverse and
pernicious arts human offspring, who are given birth by Divine
Providence. Those who use abortifacient medicines to hide their
fornication cause not only the outright murder of the fetus but
of the whole human race as well.
=20
Source: Paedagogus, 2.10.96.
=20
Along about the same period of time, the prolific Tertullian
composed his Apology. Within it he connected the sanctity of life with
the integrity of the gospel:
=20
Our faith declares life out of death. Therefore, murder is
forbidden once and for all. We may not destroy even the fetus
in the womb. To hinder a birth is merely a speedier man
killing.
Thus is does not matter whether you take away a life that is
born,
or destroy one that is coming to the birth. In both instances,
destruction is murder.
=20
Source: Apology, 8.6; 9.4.
=20
And, lest we forget, Ambrose, the reknown and revered bishop
of Milan, was straight to the point in his condemnation of those
engaged in child-killing procedures:
=20
They deny in their very womb their own progeny. By use of
parricidal mixtures they snuff out the fruit of their wombs.
In this way life is taken before it is given. Who except man
himself has taught us ways of repudiating our own children.
=20