Editing Abortion in the United Kingdom (section)

===Roman Catholic===
The ''[[Catechism of the Catholic Church]]'' states that human life "must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception" and that from the first moment of existence, "a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life." The Church has affirmed "the moral evil of every procured abortion" since the 1st century AD and describes direct abortion "willed either as an end or a means" as gravely contrary to the moral law.<ref>{{cite web |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church, Respect for Human Life |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P7Z.HTM |website=www.vatican.va |publisher=Catholic Church |access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref> [[Pope John Paul II]] reaffirmed the ''Catechism'' in his papal encyclical {{lang|la|[[Evangelium vitae]]}} (''The Gospel of Life'') in 1995, which taught on "bringing about a transformation of culture" in relation to abortion and the value of human life, including extensive care and support for pregnant women, their children and their families.<ref>{{cite web |last1=John Paul II |first1=His Holiness |title=Evangelium vitae |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae.html |website=www.vatican.va |publisher=Libreria Editrice Vaticana |access-date=16 August 2022 |location=Vatican City State |date=1995}}</ref>

During his [[1982 visit by Pope John Paul II to the United Kingdom|pastoral visit]] to Great Britain in 1982, John Paul II remarked: "I support with all my heart those who recognize and defend the law of God which governs human life. We must never forget that every person, from the moment of conception to the last breath, is a unique child of God and has a right to life. This right should be defended by the attentive care of the medical and nursing professions and by the protection of the law."<ref>{{cite web |title=Address of John Paul II at the Ceremony of the Anointing of the Sick |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/1982/may/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19820528_cattedrale-southwark.html |website=www.vatican.va |publisher=Libreria Editrice Vaticana |access-date=12 November 2022 |location=Southwark Cathedral, London |date=28 May 1982}}</ref> [[Pope Benedict XVI]], on his [[State visit by Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom|state visit]] to the United Kingdom in 2010, stated: "Life is a unique gift, at every stage from conception until natural death, and it is God’s alone to give and to take."<ref>{{cite web |title=Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI on a visit to St Peter's Residence, a home for older people |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2010/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20100918_st-peter-residence.html |website=www.vatican.va |publisher=Libreria Editrice Vaticana |access-date=12 November 2022 |location=London |date=18 September 2010}}</ref>