Pope Francis issued a strong condemnation of abortion today, calling abortion an “abominable crime” and saying the right to life is the central human right.
Speaking before the Italian pro-life group Movimento per la Vita, Pope Francis thanks pro-life activists for “promoting and defending human life from its conception.”
He said every civil right is based on the “first and most fundamental right,” the right to life: which is not subordinate to any other.
“We know human life is sacred and inviolable,” the Pope said. “Every civil law is based on the recognition of the first and fundamental right, that to life, which is not subject to any conditions, neither economic nor qualitative nor ideological.”
“One of the most serious risks” today, he added, is the “divorce between economics and morality … It is therefore necessary to reiterate the strongest opposition to any direct attack on life, especially innocent and defenseless life, and the unborn child in the mother’s womb is the innocent par excellence.”
The leader of the Catholic Church quoted from the Second Vatican Council’s writings against abortion and he recalled an occasion on which an abortion practitioner handed him his instruments after deciding to leave the abortion industry.
“It is must be therefore reiterated the strongest opposition to any direct attack on life, especially innocent and defenseless life, and the unborn child in the womb is the most concrete example of innocence,” said Pope Francis. “Let us remember the words of the Second Vatican Council: From the moment of its conception, life must be guarded with the greatest care while abortion and infanticide are unspeakable crimes.” ( Gaudium et Spes, 51).
He urged pro-life advocates to show the same forgiveness and grace to women who have had abortions so “every woman feels regarded as a person, listened to, accepted, accompanied.”