# 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]] ## Compendium of Social Doctrine ![[sd-10-index-a#Abortion]]