So... I am knee-deep in a discussion on choice.

[Brettongarcia]

11. Should people call abortion "murder"?

It's probably worth hearing this idea, once or twice: it's what many Catholics think. So it is worth addressing now and then - calmly, rationally.

Briefly? Calmly? Most people today believe that the embryo is not yet a human being or human person. So they do not believe that killing an embryo, is kllling a human person.

Why do they think that the embryo is not a fully human being? There are lots of reasons for that. The main reason is that 1) in the Bible, in 2) ancient Philosophy, and in 3) Christian theology, from Aristotle, to St. Augustine, and 4) St. Aquinas, and in 5) modern science, it was often said that the embryo was not developed - or "form"ed (Ps. 139) - enough, to contain a human soul. Modern science confirms that the brain of the embryo is too small, too undeveloped, to sustain the human intelligence, the "rational soul" as Aquinas called it, that makes us more than the animals.

Therefore? Most people - even most of even Catholic tradition - in effect said that at least the very young embryo, is not a human person. And therefore? Killing an embryo is not "murder." Abortion does not kill a human being, but only an embryo.

Today in fact, even the conservatives of the Church, refrain from calling abortion murder, TOO often; since such language and thinking, is extremely inflammatory, and incendiary.

Still? The topic is worth a calm conversation, now and then.

For more on this subject? See my 700-page working paper, showing how key elements of the Bible, and even neglected elements of Catholic tradition, actually support this idea: that the embryo is not yet a full human person. Therefore? Abortion is not murder.

http://brettongarcia.wordpress.com/