You shall not kill.

The fifth commandment prohibits the intentional or indirect causing of another person’s death, as well as exposing individuals to mortal danger without a grave reason (CCC 2269). This law establishes that the right to life is an inviolable right for every innocent person, requiring that human life be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception (CCC 2270). Because of this absolute protection, direct abortion is considered gravely contrary to the moral law, as it involves the intentional killing of an embryo or causing the death of a newborn (CCC 2271).

Theologically, this commandment is one of the precepts of the Decalogue that specifically concerns the love of neighbor (CCC 2053). The Ten Commandments serve as a path of life designed to free humanity from the slavery of sin and are a gift of divine revelation (CCC 2058-2059). This moral framework is a work of divine Wisdom that proscribes evil and prescribes the ways to beatitude, rooted in a rational order established by God for the common good (CCC 1950-1951).