Współczesne stanowisko Kościoła katolickiego w kwestii dziecka nienarodzonego

Abstract

As the Church believes, human life begins at the moment of conception. For that reason, the Catholic Church has always considered every person a subject of rights and strongly opposed attacks on conceived human life. Under canon law, any action leading to the killing of an unborn child at any stage of their development is considered murder punishable with severe penalties and penance. The Code of Canon Law provides for excommunication for killing a human fetus, a serious crime as it concerns a harmless person. The Church law protects the nasciturus, for instance by allowing miscarried fetuses to be baptized as long as they are alive and by the right to a Catholic funeral without prior baptism. Furthermore, if there are doubts whether aborted fetuses are alive, the Church allows their conditional baptism. The Catholic Church’s stand on the legal status of the nasciturus is fully reflected in the teachings of John Paul II. In his statements addressed to doctors, politicians and students, he emphasized the importance of dignity and respect for each human being from the moment of conception to natural death. The Pope firmly defended the rights of the nasciturus and opposed the production of human embryos beyond their natural environment. The Church maintains that genetic research on human embryos compromises human dignity and human rights, and thus should not be carried out. Simultaneously, the Church encourages the development of medical sciences aimed at improving human health and its quality.