Vocabulary
Sin that becomes embedded in a society's structures, laws, or systems (like racism or unjust wages), not just individual wrongdoing.
Social Sin
Conception
The deliberate act of ending a person's life to relieve their suffering. The Church teaches this is always wrong because it is a form of killing an innocent person, even when done out of compassion.
Euthanasia
Number of countries that have banned capital punishment in the world
113
The belief that all human life is sacred from the moment of conception until natural death, because it comes from God and belongs to God.
Sanctity of Life
The virtue of recognizing our responsibility for one another as members of one human family, especially the poor and vulnerable.
Solidarity
The deliberate ending of a pregnancy with the intention of causing the death of the unborn child. The Church teaches this is always gravely wrong because it takes an innocent human life (type of abortion)
Direct Abortion
When a person is provided the means (such as medication) to end their own life, usually by a medical professional. The Church considers this morally equivalent to euthanasia.
Physician Assisted Suicide
number of states in the US who still permit a death sentence?
27
a society that treats some human lives as disposable, inconvenient, or less valuable than others
Culture of Death
The sum of social conditions that allow people to reach their full human potential; the good of the whole community, not just individuals.
Common Good
When a medical procedure performed to save the mother's life (such as removing a cancerous uterus) but the death of the unborn child is an unintended side effect, not the goal of the action.(type)
Indirect Abortion
Medical treatments that offer a reasonable hope of benefit and are not excessively burdensome (such as food, water, and basic care). The Church teaches these must always be provided.
Ordinary Means
United States
The Commandment that says "You shall not kill"
5th
A principle developed by Karol Wojtyla (Pope St. John Paul II) that says a person may never be treated merely as a means to an end (a tool to get something else). Every person must always be treated as an end in themselves, worthy of love and respect.
Personalistic Norm
A reproductive technology in which an egg is fertilized outside the body. The Church raises concerns about this because it often separates conception from the marital act and can result in the destruction of unused embryos.
IVF or Invitro
Medical treatments that are excessively burdensome, risky, or offer little hope of benefit. A patient or family may morally choose to stop these treatments — this is not euthanasia.
Extreme Measures
Number of jurors needed to vote for the death sentence in Florida for the sentence to be followed.
8 of 12
Year Roe V Wade made abortion legal in all 50 states.
1973
Inherent worth every human has because they are made in the image of God
Human Dignity
The Church is not apposed to adult stem cell research as it does not destroy embryos. It does appose this other one because it uses human embryos and then destroys them.
Embryonic Stem Cells
Medical care focused on relieving pain and suffering, especially at the end of life. The Church strongly supports this as a compassionate alternative to euthanasia.
Palliative Care
Countries that executed more people than the US in 2025
What is China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen
The 1891 encyclical by Pope Leo XIII, considered the founding document of modern Catholic Social Teaching, written in response to the Industrial Revolution and the rights of workers.
Rerum Novarum
The acronym that is used to give a rational reason not to allow abortion.
SLED
The act, and not the human result, is considered this by the Church
Intrinsically evil
The number of executions the state of Florida has already performed this year.
15
The idea that all life issues — abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, poverty, war, and more — are connected. A Catholic is called to defend human dignity consistently, not just on one issue. Also known as Seamless Garment.
Consistent Ethic of Life