More Than Murder: The 5th Commandment

Continuing a series on the 10 Commandments, Fr. Kerry and Fr. O'Brien explore the 5th Commandment. In The Catechism of the Catholic it's paragraphs 2258-2330 and covers a wide variety of topics including war and peace, abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, suicide, and more. Thanks for listening!

In the episode, Fr. O'Brien mentions paragraph #99 from The Gospel of Life by St. John Paul II. It is addressed to woman who have had an abortion. Here's the statement in full:

I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To the same Father and his mercy you can with sure hope entrust your child. With the friendly and expert help and advice of other people, and as a result of your own painful experience, you can be among the most eloquent defenders of everyone's right to life. Through your commitment to life, whether by accepting the birth of other children or by welcoming and caring for those most in need of someone to be close to them, you will become promoters of a new way of looking at human life. 

 

Here are the other shows on the commandments:

1st Commandment- https://pastorsofpayne.podbean.com/e/the-first-commandment-i-am-the-lord-your-god-you-shall-not-have-strange-gods-before-me/

2nd Commandment- https://pastorsofpayne.podbean.com/e/using-and-misusing-the-lords-name/

3rd Commandment- https://pastorsofpayne.podbean.com/e/keeping-holy-the-sabbath-the-3rd-commandment/

4th Commandment- https://pastorsofpayne.podbean.com/e/honoring-your-family-the-4th-commandment/