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. 74
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. 75
2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes
a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty
of excommunication to this crime against human life.
"A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication
latae sententiae,"76 "by the very
commission of the offense,"77
and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law.
78 The Church does not thereby
intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes
clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable
harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well
as to the parents and the whole of society.
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