What the Churches Say

The oldest known Christian document, written about 70CE stated:

"You shall not kill by abortion the fruit of the womb and you shall not murder the infant already born (infanticide)".

The Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic church maintains the strongest objection to all unnatural forms of birth control and abortion. It teaches that abortion denies the most fundamental of all human rights - the right to exist. The destruction of any foetus amounts to murder. Any Catholic involved in an abortion, whether mother or medical practitioner, may be excommunicated from the church and its sacraments.

The Catechism of the Catholic church states "from the first moment of his (her) existence, a human being must be recognised as having the rights of a person - among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.

"Since Roman Catholics believe life begins from the moment of conception; termination is viewed as murder at any time during pregnancy".

CONTRACEPTION

While the church recognise the pain of a married couple who are unable to have a child, she says that "a child is a gift, not a right". For this reason, the church rejects all forms of contraception and new reproductive technologies, i.e. IVF - In Vitro Fertilisation, AIH - Artificial Insemination by husband and AID - Artificial Insemination by a Donor.