Lets join our resources in order to buy Card. Martini a copy of the Compendum of the CCC. He may be a respected scholar, but he clearly doesn´t now his Compendium. His position on the beginning of life is in direct opposition to the teaching contained in paragraps 470 and 472 of the Compendium, and the corresponding paragraphs of the Cathechism of the Catholic Church.

I quote the Cathechism of the Catholic Church:

"Abortion

2270 Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception.

From the first moment of his 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. 71
(...)
2271 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion.
This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable.
Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law:

'You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.74
God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves.
Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes'.75
(...)
Among such fundamental rights one should mention in this regard every human being's right to life and physical integrity from the moment of conception until death.79"

Given that the Cathechism is the summary of our faith, isn´t dissent from the Cathechism heresy? Doesn´t heresy carry with itself latae sententiae (automatic) excommunication?

There can be no doubt that Martini dissents from the teachings of the Cathechism conveyed in its paragraphs 2270, 2271 and 2273.
Prof. Antonio Basto | 04.25.06 - 1:17 pm | #