“A human being is always sacred and inviolable, in any situation and at every stage of development. Once this conviction disappears, so do solid and lasting foundations for the defense of human rights, which would always be subject to the passing whims of the powers that be.”
— Pope Francis, explaining the Church’s opposition to abortion in his apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”), released by the Vatican Nov. 26
