What Does the Catholic Church Say About Abortion?
The Secret History of Catholicism and Abortion
As Catholics, we’re often taught that abortion and Catholicism can’t mix. But when you study Scripture, papal teachings, and the lives of the saints, it’s clear that church teachings on abortion have changed over time.
Abortion and faith can coexist — the church just doesn’t want you to know it.
Share this video to dispel the myth and teach others the secret history that anti-abortion Catholics don’t want you to know.
Key Facts
- Abortion is never shamed, discouraged, or banned in the Bible. Scripture even suggests that fetuses shouldn’t have legal personhood. Exodus 21:22-25 says the punishment for killing a woman should be greater than the punishment for causing a woman to have a miscarriage. This means that in the Bible, a fetus is not considered a person — but a woman clearly is.
- For most of church history, theologians and popes taught that life began after conception. In 1588, Pope Sixtus V became the first pope to publicly equate abortion at all stages with homicide. His successor, Pope Gregory XIV, refuted this statement just three years later. Why? It was inconsistent with church teaching.
- The saints taught about and practiced abortion care. St. Brigid of Kildare, a fifth-century Irish saint, performed a miracle that might surprise you: She made a pregnancy disappear. St. Hildegard of Bingen was a composer, nun, and herbalist who wrote about herbal abortions in her medical textbooks. Their legacy shows that the church can and should trust women.
Want to learn more about St. Brigid? Download our pro-choice prayer cards!
DownloadAbortion is a part of church history. Women are a part of church history. Church teachings on abortion have changed, and we can change them again.
As Catholics for Choice, we are proud to continue the long tradition of pro-choice Catholicism.
