Worldwide Communion of Catholic Apostolic Churches (WCCAC) :: View topic - Apostolic Tradition

BpAndre

On Abortion

In the Catholic Apostolic National Church, with concerns for quality of life issues today, there is and must rightly be, a hierarchy of truths. Any support or activism regarding social issues that is lacking in a definite and emphatic support of the right to life of the unborn child is fatally defective. Certainly the other life issues are important and must be strongly addressed. However, the Catholic Apostolic National Church position on abortion requires and demands of us assigning preeminence in according protection to the unborn child. The right to life is the foundation upon which all quality of life issues are laid. One can have no true Christian commitment to caring for the poor, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, healthcare, medicine, “just war doctrines” or any other related issues, without an active commitment to the God-given right to life. Thus, among these life issues, the right to life tops the hierarchy of truth as it pertains to them.

It is also important to know and understand that Christians may inadvertently promote abortion through the use of contraceptive drugs and devices. Drugs such as the contraceptive pill, (“The Pill”) commonly used, is a potential abortifacient, and sometimes causes an early chemical abortion after a new life has been conceived, and not simply prevents conception from occurring. Thus, many Christians have unknowingly caused the deaths of many human beings, through the deception of others and unwillingness to thoroughly research such drugs before using them. Other so-called contraception devices actually mechanically cause the death of unborn children conceived. All potential and actual abortifacients are expressly forbidden and gravely sinful.

“You shall not procure abortion, nor destroy a new-born child.” The Didache, 140 A.D. 34

“A woman who has deliberately destroyed a fetus must pay the penalty for murder.” St. Basil the Great, Of Basil To Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium; The First Canonical Letter, 374 A.D. 30

“And when we say that those women who use drugs to bring on abortion commit murder, and will have to give an account to God for the abortion, on what principle should we commit murder? For it does not belong to the same person to regard the very foetus in the womb as a created being, and therefore an object of God's care, and when it has passed into life, to kill it; and not to expose an infant, because those who expose them are chargeable with child-murder, and on the other hand, when it has been reared to destroy it. But we are in all things always alike and the same, submitting ourselves to reason, and not ruling over it.” Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians, 35, 177 A.D., CCEL.

“In our case, murder being once for all forbidden, we may not destroy even the foetus in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other parts of the body for its sustenance. To hinder a birth is merely a speedier man-killing; nor does it matter whether you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to the birth. That is a man which is going to be one; you have the fruit already in its seed.” Tertullian, Apology 9:8., 197 A.D., CCEL.

“Why sow where the ground makes it its care to destroy the fruit? Where there are many efforts at abortion? Where there is murder before the birth? For even the harlot thou dost not let continue a mere harlot, but makest her a murderess also. You see how drunkenness leads to whoredom, whoredom to adultery, adultery to murder; or rather to a something even worse than murder. For I have no name to give it, since it does not take off the thing born, but prevent its being born. Why then dost thou abuse the gift of God, and fight with His laws, and follow after what is a curse as if a blessing, and make the chamber of procreation a chamber for murder, and arm the woman that was given for childbearing unto slaughter? For with a view to drawing more money by being agreeable and an object of longing to her lovers, even this she is not backward to do, so heaping upon thy head a great pile of fire. For even if the daring deed be hers, yet the causing of it is thine.” St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on Romans 24 391 A.D., CCEL.

[cited from the CANC Catechism]
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Bishop Andre' Jhohn-William Queen, SCR
Vicar General
Catholic Apostolic National Church
Phone: 773.942.4660