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The Didache, ca 120 A.D.
"Thou shalt not murder a child by abortion." -2:2
"The Way of Death
is filled with people who are...murderers of children and abortionists of God's creatures." 5:1-2
The Epistle of Barnabas, ca 125 A.D.
"Thou shalt love thy neighbor more than thy own life. Thou shalt not murder
a child by abortion." 19:5
Clement of Alexandria, ca 150-180 A.D.
"Our whole life can go on in observation of the laws of nature, if we
gain dominion over our desires from the beginning and if we do not kill, by various means of a perverse art, the human offspring,
born according to the designs of divine providence; for these women who, in order to hide their immorality, use abortive drugs
which expel the child completely dead. abort at the same time their own human feelings." -Paedagogus 2
Athenagoras, ca 165 A.D.
"We say that women who induce abortions are murderers, and will have to give account
of it to God. For the same person would not regard the child in the womb as a living being and therefore an object of God's
care and then kill it...But we are altogether consistent in our conduct. We obey reason and do not override it." -Legatio
35
Tertullian, ca 160-240 A.D.
"For us [Christians] we many not destroy even the fetus in the womb, while as yet
the human being derives blood from other parts of the body for its sustenance. To hinder a birth is merely a speedier man-killing;
nor does it matter when you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to birth. That man which is going
to be one; you have the fruit already in the seed." -Apology 9:6
"They [John and Jesus] were both alive
while still in the womb. Elizabeth rejoiced as the infant leaped in her womb; Mary glorifies the Lord because Christ within
inspired her. Each mother recognizes her child and is known by her child who is alive, being not merely souls but also spirits."
-De Anima 26:4
Hippolytus, ca 170-236 A.D.
"Reputed believers began to resort to drugs for producing sterility and to grind
themselves round, so as to expel what was conceived on account of their not wanting to have a child either by a slave or by
any paltry fellow, for the sake of their family and excessive wealth. Behold, into how great impiety that lawless one has
proceeded, by inculcating adultery and murder at the same time." -Refutation of all Heresies 9:7
Basil the Great, ca 330-370 A.D.
"Moreover, those, too, who give drugs causing abortion are delierate murderers
themselves, as well as those receiving the poison which kills the fetus." -Letter 188:2
The Apostolic Constitutions, ca 380 A.D.
"Thou shalt not slay thy child by causing abortion, nor kill that which
is begotten. For everything that is shaped, and has received a soul from God, if slain, it shall be avenged, as being unjustly
destroyed." -Apostolic Constitutions 7:3
John Chrysostom, ca 340-407 A.D.
"Why sow where the ground makes it its care to destroy the fruit? Where there
are many efforts at abortion? Where there is murder before birth? For you do not even let the harlot remain a mere harlot,
but make her a murderer also. You see how drunkenness leads to whoredom, whoredom to adultery, adultery to murder; or rather
something even worse than murder. For I have no real name to give it, since it does not destroy the thing born but prevents
its being born. Why then do you abuse the gift of God and fight with His laws, and follow after what is a curse as if a blessing,
and make the place of procreation a chamber for murder, and arm the woman that was given for childbearing unto slaughter?"
-Homily 24 on Romans
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