Vývoj problematiky abortu v učení Katolíckej cirkvi
The History of Abortion in the Teaching of the Catholic Church

Summary/Abstract: The issue of abortion is currently very controversial and frequently discussed topic in media, as well as in the private discussions. Many of the opponents criticize the Catholic Church because of its strict anti-abortion position. Relatively frequent argument of the liberal wing is that even the teaching of some medieval Christian philosophers/authors was equal to the current modern abortion legislation in the sense that the value of the fetus diff erred in accordance with the stage of pregnancy (before and after “ensoulment” of the fetus), in which the fetus could have been found. Given the fact that as far as the Catholic Church is concerned, this could be rather serious accuse, the main aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive overview of approaches of Christian writers to the issue of abortion and also explain the reasons of their deflecting – in the context of ensoulment of the fetus – from the original, as well as the current official teaching of the Church. The article explains the historical reasons for this situation and describes what specifically the Christian scholars have considered in the context of hereabove discussed issue, on the basis of which the fetal development can be divided into exposed stage and the stage from which an unborn child shall be legally protected.

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