Published: 2023-12-28

Protection of the life of unborn children in the teaching of the Catholic and Lutheran Churches

Łukasz Filipiuk
Studia Oecumenica
Section: Dialogi ekumeniczne
DOI https://doi.org/10.25167/so.5046

Abstract

The article deals with the issue of the defense of unborn life within the framework of the Catholic-Lutheran dialogue. This reflection was undertaken in connection with the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the Act on Family Planning, Protection of the Human Fetus and the Conditions of Permissibility of Abortion in Poland, which falls in 2023. The Catholic Church and the Evangelical Augsburg Church express concern in different ways for the fate of children conceived at risk of abortion. Each of them makes a theological effort both to justify and to defend the value and dignity of human life. The point, however, is to take joint action within the framework of ecumenical dialogue to promote the civilization of life. Of all initiatives, prayer should come first. After that, other desirable actions can follow. The pastoral content that reaches the faithful of both churches is important. They are to lead to the acceptance of what serves life and the rejection of all forms of hypocrisy of the truth about the dignity of the human person, the value of life, and respect for the right to life. Such an effort has already been made, but it still seems insufficient in the face of attacks on the lives of unborn children by pro-abortion circles.

Keywords:

abortion, defence of unborn life, ecumenical dialogue, Catholic theology, Lutheran theology

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Citation rules

Filipiuk, Łukasz. (2023). Protection of the life of unborn children in the teaching of the Catholic and Lutheran Churches. Studia Oecumenica, 23, 227–246. https://doi.org/10.25167/so.5046

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