Abortion is the deliberate ending of a pregnancy, causing the death of the fetus.

What does Humanae Vitae teach about abortion?

Humanae Vitae 14 rules out directly willed abortion as a way of regulating births, even for therapeutic reasons. The encyclical is mainly about contraception but treats abortion as never permitted.

What is the principle of double effect, and how does it apply to pregnancy?

Double effect allows an action with a good aim even if a bad side effect is foreseen but not intended. Removal of a cancerous womb to save the mother is allowed, even though the unborn child dies.

What is the pro-life argument against abortion?

Pro-life supporters argue that the fetus is a human being from conception with a right to life. Abortion is therefore the killing of an innocent person.

Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B 1RB0

Catholic Christianity: Catholic BeliefsAny paper

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Catholic Christianity: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The importance and purpose of marriage for Catholics Catholic teaching on sexual relationships Catholic teaching on the purpose of the family and family types How the Catholic parish supports families Catholic teaching on contraception and natural family planning Catholic teaching on divorce, annulment and remarriage Catholic teaching on men and women in the family Catholic opposition to gender prejudice and discrimination

Catholic Christianity: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Catholic responses to the origins and value of the universe The sanctity of life in Catholic teaching Catholic responses to evolution and survival of the fittest Catholic teaching on abortion Catholic arguments for life after death Catholic responses to arguments against life after death Catholic teaching on euthanasia and hospice care Catholic responses to the environment and animal rights

Catholic Christianity: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Catholic attitudes towards justice Catholic attitudes towards crime and the work of Prison Fellowship Catholic teachings about good, evil and suffering Catholic attitudes towards punishment Catholic attitudes towards the aims of punishment Catholic teachings about forgiveness and mercy Catholic teachings about the treatment of criminals and torture Catholic attitudes towards the death penalty

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Topic overview Catholic attitudes towards peace and Jesus as the Prince of Peace Catholic peacemaking and the work of Pax Christi Catholic attitudes to the causes and problems of conflict Catholic attitudes to pacifism and passive resistance Catholic teaching on the Just War theory Catholic attitudes to Holy War Catholic attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Catholic responses to violence, war and terrorism

Catholic Christianity: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Catholic understanding of Jesus as the culmination of revelation Visions and Catholic belief in God Miracles and Catholic belief in God Catholic attitudes to religious experience The design argument in Catholic thought The cosmological argument in Catholic thought The problem of suffering for Catholic belief in an all-loving God Catholic responses to the problem of suffering

Catholic Christianity: EqualityPaper 3

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Christianity: Christian BeliefsAny paper

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Christianity: Living the Christian LifeAny paper

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Christianity: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage for Christians Christian teachings on sexual relationships The purpose of the Christian family How the local church supports Christian families Christian attitudes to contraception and family planning Christian attitudes to divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Christian family Christian responses to gender prejudice and discrimination

Christianity: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Christian responses to the Big Bang and the value of the universe The sanctity of life in Christian teaching Christian responses to evolution and the origins of human life Christian attitudes to abortion Christian arguments for life after death Christian responses to non-religious arguments against life after death Christian attitudes to euthanasia and hospice care Christian responses to environmental issues and animal rights

Christianity: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Christian attitudes to justice Christian attitudes to crime and the work of Prison Fellowship and Street Pastors Christian teachings about good actions, evil actions and why people suffer Christian attitudes to punishment and Luke 12:35–48 Christian attitudes to the aims of punishment Christian teachings on forgiveness and restorative justice Christian attitudes to the treatment of criminals Christian attitudes to the death penalty

Christianity: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Christian attitudes to peace and Jesus as a peacemaker Christian peacemaking and the work of Pax Christi Christian attitudes to conflict and its causes Christian pacifism, passive resistance and Martin Luther King Christian attitudes to the Just War theory Christian attitudes to Holy War Christian attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Christian responses to violence, war and terrorism

Christianity: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Revelation as evidence for God in Christianity Visions as evidence for God in Christianity Miracles as evidence for God in Christianity Religious experience and the burning bush Answered prayer as evidence for God The design argument and Christian belief The cosmological argument and Aquinas's First Three Ways Religious upbringing and belief in God

Christianity: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Christian teaching on human rights Christian attitudes to equality Christian attitudes to religious freedom Christian attitudes to prejudice and discrimination Christian attitudes to racial harmony and the work of Desmond Tutu Christian attitudes to racial discrimination Christian attitudes to social justice Christian attitudes to wealth and poverty

Islam: Muslim BeliefsAny paper

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Islam: Living the Muslim LifeAny paper

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Islam: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Islam Muslim teaching on sexual relationships The purpose of the family in Islam How the ummah supports Muslim families Muslim attitudes to contraception Muslim teaching on divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Muslim family Muslim teaching on gender prejudice and discrimination

Islam: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Muslim teaching on the origins and value of the universe The sanctity of life in Islam Muslim responses to evolution and scientific views of human life Muslim attitudes to abortion Muslim responses to arguments for life after death Muslim responses to arguments against life after death Muslim attitudes to euthanasia Muslim responses to issues in the natural world

Islam: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Muslim attitudes to justice Muslim attitudes to crime Muslim teaching on good, evil and suffering Muslim attitudes to punishment Muslim attitudes to the aims of punishment Muslim teaching on forgiveness Muslim teaching on the treatment of criminals Muslim attitudes to the death penalty

Islam: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Muslim attitudes to peace Muslims and peacemaking Muslim attitudes to conflict Muslim responses to pacifism Just war theory and Islam Holy war and Islam Muslim attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Muslim responses to violence, war and terrorism

Islam: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Revelation as proof of the existence of Allah Visions and the existence of Allah Miracles and the existence of Allah Muslim attitudes to religious experience The design argument in Islam The cosmological argument and al-Ghazali's kalam Suffering and Allah as compassionate Muslim responses to the problem of suffering

Islam: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Muslim teaching on human rights Muslim attitudes to equality Muslim attitudes to religious freedom Muslim attitudes to prejudice and discrimination Muslim teaching on racial harmony Muslim responses to racial discrimination and Malcolm X Muslim attitudes to social justice Muslim attitudes to wealth and poverty

Buddhism: Buddhist BeliefsAny paper

Topic overview The life of the Buddha Dhamma, dependent origination and the Three Marks of Existence The First Noble Truth: dukkha The Second Noble Truth: samudaya and the Three Poisons The Third Noble Truth: nirodha, samsara and nibbana The Fourth Noble Truth: the Eightfold Path and the Threefold Way The Five Khandas, Buddha-nature and the Arahant and Bodhisattva ideals Buddhist ethics: kamma, merit, the Five Precepts and the Six Perfections

Buddhism: Living the Buddhist LifeAny paper

Topic overview Buddhist meditation: samatha, metta bhavana, vipassana and zazen Buddhist chanting Mantra recitation, mala beads and offerings Buddhist places of worship: temples, viharas and gompas Buddharupas and other objects of devotion Buddhist puja in the vihara and the home Buddhist death and mourning rituals Buddhist festivals and retreats

Buddhism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Buddhism Buddhist teaching on sexual relationships The Buddhist family and its purpose How the Buddhist sangha supports families Buddhist attitudes to contraception Buddhist attitudes to divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Buddhist family Buddhism, gender prejudice and discrimination

Buddhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Buddhist teaching on the origins and value of the universe The sanctity of life in Buddhism Buddhist responses to evolution and survival of the fittest Buddhist attitudes to abortion Buddhist teaching on death, rebirth and the afterlife Buddhist responses to arguments against life after death Buddhist attitudes to euthanasia and hospice care Buddhist responses to the environment and animal rights

Buddhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Buddhist attitudes to justice Buddhist attitudes to crime and its causes Buddhist teaching on good, evil and suffering Buddhist attitudes to punishment Buddhism and the aims of punishment Buddhist teaching on forgiveness and restorative justice Buddhist teaching on the treatment of criminals Buddhist attitudes to the death penalty

Buddhism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Buddhist attitudes to peace Buddhist peacemaking and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship Buddhist attitudes to conflict and its causes Buddhist pacifism and passive resistance Buddhist responses to the Just War theory Buddhist attitudes to war Buddhist attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Engaged Buddhism and Buddhist responses to violence and terrorism

Buddhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Buddhist teaching on the non-existence of a personal God The devas, the Realm of Gods and the Wheel of Life Enlightenment as a Buddhist religious experience Buddhist teaching on miracles Buddhist prayer and the Avalokitesvara mantra Buddhist teaching on visions Buddhist attitudes to religious experience A Buddhist upbringing

Buddhism: EqualityPaper 3

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Hinduism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The importance and purpose of Hindu marriage Hindu teachings on sexual relationships The purpose of the Hindu family and types of family How the Hindu community supports families Hindu attitudes to contraception and family planning Hindu attitudes to divorce and remarriage Hindu teachings on men and women in the family Hindu opposition to gender prejudice and discrimination

Hinduism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Hindu responses to the origins and value of the universe Hindu teachings on the sanctity of life Hindu responses to evolution and the origins of human life Hindu attitudes to abortion Hindu teachings and arguments about life after death Hindu responses to non-religious arguments against life after death Hindu attitudes to euthanasia Hindu responses to the natural world and animal rights

Hinduism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Hindu attitudes to justice Hindu attitudes to crime and its causes Hindu teachings on good, evil and suffering Hindu attitudes to punishment: danda and prayascitta Hindu attitudes to the aims of punishment Hindu teachings on forgiveness and restorative justice Hindu teachings on the treatment of criminals Hindu attitudes to the death penalty

Hinduism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Hindu attitudes to peace Hindus as peacemakers: ahimsa and Mahatma Gandhi Hindu attitudes to conflict in society Hindu attitudes to pacifism and satyagraha Hindu attitudes to the Just War theory Hindu attitudes to holy war and dharma yuddha Hindu attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Hindu responses to violence, war and terrorism

Hinduism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Revelation in Hindu scripture Hindu attitudes to visions Hindu attitudes to numinous experiences Hindu attitudes to miracles Hindu teaching about prayer and the Gayatri Mantra Hindu teachings on the non-existence of a personal God Hindu attitudes to religious experience as evidence for God Hindu attitudes to religious upbringing

Hinduism: EqualityPaper 3

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Judaism: Jewish BeliefsAny paper

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Judaism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Judaism Jewish teachings on sexual relationships The purpose of the Jewish family How the Jewish community supports families Jewish attitudes to contraception and family planning Jewish teachings on divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Jewish family Judaism and gender prejudice

Judaism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Judaism, science and the origins of the universe The value of life in the Tenakh Jewish responses to evolution Jewish attitudes to abortion Jewish arguments for life after death Jewish responses to arguments against life after death Jewish attitudes to euthanasia Judaism and the environment

Judaism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Jewish attitudes to justice Jewish attitudes to crime and its causes Jewish teachings on good, evil and suffering Jewish teachings on punishment The aims of punishment in Judaism Jewish teachings on forgiveness and restorative justice Jewish teachings on the treatment of criminals Jewish attitudes to the death penalty

Judaism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Jewish teachings on peace Jewish peacemaking Jewish attitudes to conflict Judaism, pacifism and passive resistance Milchemet reshut and Just War in Judaism Milchemet mitzvah and Holy War in Judaism Jewish attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Judaism, violence, war and terrorism

Judaism: Religious ExperiencePaper 3

Topic overview Revelation in the Tenakh Visions in Judaism Miracles in Judaism Jewish attitudes to religious experience The design argument and Judaism The cosmological argument and Judaism Suffering and the nature of the Almighty Jewish responses to the problem of suffering

Judaism: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Jewish teaching on human rights Jewish attitudes to equality and ahavat ha-beriot Religious freedom and the story of Esther Jewish attitudes to prejudice and antisemitism Jewish work for racial harmony Jewish attitudes to racial discrimination Jewish attitudes to social justice Jewish teaching on wealth and poverty

Sikhism: Sikh BeliefsAny paper

Topic overview The nature of God in the Mool Mantar God as Creator (Karta Purakh)Human life as the chance to unite with God Sikh beliefs about karma, rebirth and mukti Gurmukh, manmukh and haumai The oneness of humanity in Sikhism Sewa: tan, man and dhan The sangat and Sat Sangat

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Sikhism: Marriage and the FamilyPaper 1

Topic overview The purpose of marriage in Sikhism Sikh teaching on sexual relationships The purpose of the Sikh family How the sangat supports Sikh families Sikh attitudes to contraception Sikh attitudes to divorce and remarriage Men and women in the Sikh family Sikh opposition to gender prejudice

Sikhism: Matters of Life and DeathPaper 1

Topic overview Sikh responses to the origins and value of the universe Sikh teaching on the sanctity of life Sikh responses to evolution Sikh attitudes to abortion Sikh responses to arguments for life after death Sikh responses to arguments against life after death Sikh attitudes to euthanasia Sikh responses to the natural world and animal rights

Sikhism: Crime and PunishmentPaper 2

Topic overview Sikh attitudes to justice Sikh attitudes to crime and the Five Thieves Sikh teaching on good, evil and suffering Sikh attitudes to punishment Sikh views on the aims of punishment Sikh teaching on forgiveness Sikh teaching on the treatment of criminals Sikh attitudes to the death penalty

Sikhism: Peace and ConflictPaper 2

Topic overview Sikh teaching on peace Sikhs and peacemaking Sikh attitudes to conflict Sikh attitudes to pacifism and passive resistance Dharam Yudh: the Sikh Just War The saint-soldier and Sikh views on holy war Sikh attitudes to weapons of mass destruction Sikh responses to violence, war and terrorism

Sikhism: Philosophy of ReligionPaper 3

Topic overview Gurbani and Guru Nanak's revelation at the river Visions and mystical experiences in Sikhism Numinous experience, vismaad and enlightenment in Sikhism Miracles and Sikh belief Sikh attitudes to religious experience The design argument and Sikh belief The cosmological argument and Sikh belief A Sikh upbringing and belief in God

Sikhism: EqualityPaper 3

Topic overview Sikh teaching on human rights Sikh attitudes to equality and solutions to inequality Sikh attitudes to religious freedom and a multi-faith society Sikh attitudes to prejudice and discrimination against religions Sikh teaching on racial harmony and Begampura Sikh responses to racial discrimination Sikh attitudes to social justice and Deg Tegh Fateh Sikh attitudes to wealth and poverty

Catholic Christianity: Matters of Life and Death

Catholic teaching on abortion

3 things to know
Paper 1

Overview

The law in Great Britain, Church teaching and Humanae Vitae, the principle of double effect, pro-life and pro-choice arguments, situation ethics, and Catholic support for crisis pregnancies.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is abortion?

Numbers

What does the law in Great Britain say about abortion?

Key term

What does the Catholic Church teach about abortion?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is abortion?
Model answer
Abortion is the deliberate ending of a pregnancy, causing the death of the fetus.
2
What does the law in Great Britain say about abortion?
Model answer
The Abortion Act 1967, as amended in 1990, allows abortion up to 24 weeks if two doctors agree the legal conditions are met. Later abortions are allowed only in rare cases, such as a serious risk to the mother's life.
3
What does the Catholic Church teach about abortion?
Model answer
The Church teaches that human life begins at conception and must be protected from that moment. Direct abortion is always gravely wrong.
4
What does Humanae Vitae teach about abortion?
Model answer
Humanae Vitae 14 rules out directly willed abortion as a way of regulating births, even for therapeutic reasons. The encyclical is mainly about contraception but treats abortion as never permitted.
5
What is the principle of double effect, and how does it apply to pregnancy?
Model answer
Double effect allows an action with a good aim even if a bad side effect is foreseen but not intended. Removal of a cancerous womb to save the mother is allowed, even though the unborn child dies.
6
What is the pro-life argument against abortion?
Model answer
Pro-life supporters argue that the fetus is a human being from conception with a right to life. Abortion is therefore the killing of an innocent person.

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