Kalebwe, Felix M. (1974) Abortion and the 5th Commandment “You Shall Not Kill”: An Explanation to Zambians of the Declaration of the Zambia Episcopal Conference on Abortion. Licentiate thesis, Pontifical Gregorian University.
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Abstract
It should not surprise anyone that in discussing this issue of abortion sometimes our Catholics find themselves taking sides either with the abortion opponents or with the abortion proponents. The ardent opponents of abortion in the universal Catholic Church have always cited the 5th Commandment "You shall not kill" as the grounds on which they base their opposition. They have always been sure of their position since upon this same Commandment has always rested the official teaching of the Catholic Church on abortion. Long before the publication of the Declaration of the Zambia Episcopal Conference, particular Councils of the first Christian centuries had condemned abortion on the same basis; later on the Holy See, the Supreme and Universal teaching authority (Magisterium) had invoked the same Commandment in condemning abortion: Pope Sixtus V in his bull Effraenatam (1588); Pope Pius XI in his Encyclical Deal Casti Connubii (Dec. 1930); and Pope Pius XII In his radio-message of Nov. 1951. In our own time, the Second Vatican Council did not make a great difference between abortion and infanticide, and the Council condemned both practice s as "unspeakable crimes." FinaIIy, Pope Paul VI has in various discourses condemned abortion on the same basis. But quite often the opponents approach the abortion controversy from the point of view of the unborn chi Id for whose right to life they stand. On the other hand there have always been abortion proponents outside the Church who advance several reasons on the behalf of the mother. The author of this paper feels that for those Zambian Catholics seriously concerned with the moral aspect of the abortion issue and the repercussions the controversy IS bound to have on an individual Catholics religious life, while taking sides in the controversy is now inevitable in view of the abortion Act, merely taking sides in the controversy in itself will not accomplish much spiritual good, either for those who advocate an absolute opposition to any act of abortion under whatever circumstances as the only means of safeguarding the Church's unchanging doctrine, or for those who, believing they have sure grounds for their pro-abortion stand, may feel the Church teaching on this issue an insupportable burden they must throw off their shoulders and await the judgment of God Himself. It is the personal conviction of the present author -- and he has no doubts that his views are shared by many concerned Catholic Zambians -- that instead of simply throwing ourselves into the already established anti-abortion and pro-abortion camps, what we need along with the discussion is a deep understanding of the centuries old and international abortion controversy which has now blown up in our country, and the universal and unchanging doctrine presented to, us as Church tradition. A deep understanding of this doctrine in the context of the centuries old and international abortion controversy is essential for a fruitful study and discussion of the Declaration as directed by the Zambia Episcopal Conference; particularly since we are a young Church, and the doctrine sometimes sees human life differently from our traditional understanding of it.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Licentiate) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Abortion, the 5th Commandment, Zambia Episcopal Conference on Abortion |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BV Practical Theology |
| Divisions: | Africana Afro-Christiana |
| Depositing User: | Mr Christopher Mapunda |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Jul 2015 12:58 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Jul 2015 12:58 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/249 |
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