When Does Life Begin?

Fr. Paul L. Berschied, Parochial Vicar

The Roman Catholic Church has always taught that life must be protected from the moment of conception. Recently the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Ms. Nancy Pelosi, has declared in a national interview that she “as a life-time, ardent member of the Catholic Church” can state that the Catholic Church does not know when life begins. She made this statement in order to support her reasons to be in favor of abortion in our country. Ms. Pelosi does not possess a degree in Sacred Theology and she is not a recognized theologian of the Roman Catholic Church. She therefore cannot speak officially as to the teachings of our Church.

In fact Ms. Pelosi is absolutely wrong about what the Catholic Church believes. The Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly states in Article #2270 that: “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.” And in Article # 2271 the Catechism states that: “Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable.” The Didache (written by the Apostles) states: “You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.” The Second Vatican Council states: “Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.” The Catechism further states in Article #2274 that: “Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being."

In these days of moral decline it is most important for all of us to know the truths of our Faith that have been given to us by Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Abortion was declared evil and gravely wrong in both the Old and the New Testaments. Our belief in the wrongness of abortion is not something that is questionable or even debatable. For a prominent Catholic to incorrectly state the teachings of the Catholic Church is a grave scandal and should always be denounced in the strongest possible terms. Belief in the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death is not popular in modern times, but it is a truth that has been consistently taught by the Church since Her founding by Jesus Christ. We must always strive to be faithful to the Creed that we profess each and every Sunday. We must pray for those Catholics who deny our Faith and try to lead others astray as well. Several Cardinals and Bishops, as well as many Congressional Catholics have reproached Mrs. Pelosi and given her the true teaching of the Church.

Much to everyone’s sadness, Mrs. Pelosi refuses to recognize her mistake and state the truth. She has only responded that she does not accept the correction of the Bishops of our Church. Can she truly say she is an ardent Catholic when she refuses to accept the truth of our Catechism and the teachings of Cardinals and Bishops in union with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict, in Rome.

May God continue to strengthen us in our Faith and maintain us in His Grace!!