 |
| Jesus Wept |
PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION;
WARNING; NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF LOUVAIN [UCL] BELGIUM HAS SUSPENDED A PROFESSOR WITH PROLIFE VIEWS; ALLEGED NEWS. [1]
Stephane Mercier, a lecturer in philosophy at the Catholic University of Louvain, distributed a paper to his students during a recent lecture; Alleged News. [1]
Professor Mercier challenged the concept of 'a right to choose' and referenced abortion as murder in the paper; Alleged News. [1]
"The murder of an innocent person capable of defending himself is revolting," Mercier wrote in the paper, "but to attack someone who does not have the strength or resources to defend himself is even more dreadful," Alleged News. [1]
Catholic Herald
Mercier reportedly told the Catholic Herald that he asked students to 'reflect on the arguments by themselves. I said repeatedly that no one should feel forced to agree with me,' Alleged News. [1]
He said he was only encouraging the students to consider the issues, Alleged News. [1]
'I did my job', Mercier said, 'and I'm now under a disciplinary procedure which really doesn't make any sense to me,' Alleged News. [1]
Professor Mercier is suspended from UCL until further notice while the university investigates; Alleged News. [1]
According to the university website, 'UCL authorities decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against him,' Alleged News. [1]
Suspension statement
UCL leadership reportedly supported a woman's 'right to choose' in its statement about the suspension; Alleged News. [1]
Abortion is legal in Belgium, Alleged News. [1]
'The UCL recalls that, in the spirit of the Act decriminalizing abortion voted in 1990, it respects the autonomy of women to make this choice, in the circumstances specified by the legislator,' Alleged News. [1]
Synergie Wallonie
A group, Synergie Wallonie, had reportedly complained to university officials about Mercier's material; Alleged News. [1]
Earlier statement
An earlier statement from the Catholic institution said, "Whatever the outcome of the inquiry, the right to abortion is enshrined in Belgian law and the note that was brought to the attention of UCL is at odds with the values upheld by the university. Conveying standpoints that contradict these values in the framework of a teaching course is unacceptable," Alleged News. [1]
Professor Mercier noted that Catholic bishops serve on the board of the University, Alleged News. [1]
Teaching of the Catholic Church
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, within the document 'Clarification on procured abortion', reportedly states;
"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." [2]
" '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 to the moral law: 'You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.' (Didache 2:2)" [2]
' "Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception:abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes", (Vatican Council II, Gaudium et Spes, 51)' [2] and [3]
"Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offence." [2]
Code of Canon Law
The Code of Canon Law in the Catholic Church is the systems of laws and legal principles made and enforced by the Church's hierarchical authorities to regulate its external organization and government and to order and direct the activities of Catholics toward the mission of the Church.
The document 'Clarification on procured abortion' makes reference to Canon Law in the following statement; 'A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,' (Code of Canon Law, Canon 1398), 'by the very commission of the offense', (Code of Canon Law, Canon 1314,), and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law (cf. Code of Canon Law, Canon 1323-1324). The Church does not thereby intent 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.' [2]
Philosophy
Philosophy is the academic discipline concerned with making explicit the nature and significance of ordinary and scientific beliefs and investigating the intelligibility of concepts by means of rational argument concerning their presuppositions, implications, and interrelationships; in particular, the rational investigation of the nature and structure of reality [metaphysics], the resources and limits of knowledge [epistemology], the principles and import of moral judgement [ethics]
and the relationship between language and reality [semantics].
Philosophical debate on abortion
Rational arguments both for, and against abortion, are nothing new. Philosophical debate on the topic of the right of a member of humanity to terminate the life of another human being has been ongoing for centuries.
Philosophical arguments about abortion spring forth from logic and rational argument.
What is the ethical standpoint on abortion?
ABORTION IS MURDER
THE RIVERS OF BLOOD FROM OUR INNOCENT UNBORN MUST STOP
WE ARE CALLED UPON TO CHOOSE
THE LAW OF GOD BROUGHT
TO US BY MOSES;
'THOU SHALT NOT KILL'
WHY NOT SIGN THE PETITION?
2. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 'Clarification on procured abortion'
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20090711_aborto-procurato_en.html
3. Vatican II Documents, Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World Gaudiam et Spes, promulgated by His Holiness, Pope Paul VI on December 7, 1965; Number 51
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html
3. Vatican II Documents, Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World Gaudiam et Spes, promulgated by His Holiness, Pope Paul VI on December 7, 1965; Number 51
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P57.HTM
With thanks to lifesitenews.com, vatican.va and youtube
