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Because abortion is common
today, it is almost sure that many practicing Roman Catholics have
participated in this. Though Scripture has not called out this
particular sin by name, the Catechism of the Catholic Church
has specifically identified this particular sin as most grievous.
Since the onset of legalized
abortion, many Roman Catholic and Bible-believing Christian groups have
stood arm and arm in opposition to this practice. Catholics and
Protestants agree that it is morally wrong and they both recognize the
gravity of this sin. There is, however, a major difference
between how the Catechism deals with this particular sin and how the
Bible deals with it.
If you have participated in the process of abortion and have felt the
condemnation of the Roman Catholic Church, I plead with you to come to
the Scriptures and drink from the fountain of truth that you may find
peace and refreshment for your weary and remorseful soul. |
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#2272 “Formal
cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The
Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime
against human life. “A person who procures a completed abortion
incurs excommunication….”
#2322 “From its conception, the child has the right to life.
Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a
"criminal" practice (GS 27 # 3), gravely contrary to the moral
law. The Church imposes the canonical penalty of excommunication
for this crime against human life.” |
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John 1:29 The
next
day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb
of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Romans 6:23 For
the
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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#1463
“Certain particularly grave sins incur excommunication, the most severe
ecclesiastical penalty, which impedes the reception of the sacraments
and the exercise of certain ecclesiastical acts, and for which
absolution consequently cannot be granted.…”
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II Corinthians
5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and
blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men:..
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#1129 “The
Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant
are necessary for salvation....”
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Ephesians
2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any
man should boast.
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As we have seen in
Scripture, God is merciful and full of compassion, even to those who
have committed the vilest of sins. I trust that you have seen the
great chasm that is separating the Catechism and the Bible on
this topic. On one hand, we are told that abortion is a mortal
sin, which needs to be confessed to a priest. This confession
needs to be made in order for the Catholic individual to participate in
the eternal life-giving sacrament of the Eucharist. Then on the
other hand, the Catechism places the decree of
excommunication on those who have participated in the act of abortion
and they are forbidden from receiving this life-giving sacrament.
My friend, all sin
separates us from the eternal life-giving God. God has not
separated out the sin of abortion and withheld His redeeming grace from
those who have fallen in this way. The Bible records the
murderous lives of Saint Paul (Acts 26:10), Moses (Acts 7:28) and even
the man after God's own heart, King David (II Samuel 11). Each
one had given full consent to the taking of innocent lives. It is
for this very reason that all these men needed to be reconciled to God
by the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Only God offers eternal life. Do not be deceived by the
craftiness of men. As God gives you repentance, turn to Him and
trust that He has paid for all your sins, past, present and
future. This is the grace of God, “To open their eyes, and to
turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God,
that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them
which are sanctified by faith that is in me [Jesus]” (Acts
26:18). Believing God’s Word will liberate you from the guilt of
sin and, “...If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples
indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”
(John 8:31-32). |
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