# Abortion ## Catechism of the Catholic Church Deliberate termination of pregnancy by killing the unborn child. Such direct abortion, willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life ([[3.2.2.5.p7z|2271-2272]]). ### Source [[3.2.2.5.p82|The Fifth Commandment, In Brief]] ## Vatican II - abortion — "life must be guarded with the greatest care while abortion and infanticide are unspeakable crimes" — [[gaudium-et-spes-02#^gs-51|GS ¶51]] ## Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church ![[sd-10-index-a#Abortion]]