--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Abortion] is an evil in and of itself…" description: "\"[Abortion] is an evil in and of itself, but it is not a religious evil in the beginning, no, it's a human evil. Then obviously, as with every human evi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/pope-francis-85_abortion_abortion-is-an-evil-in-and-of-itself-but_1804103.png" --- # \[Abortion\] is an evil in and of itself, but it is not a… ![“[Abortion] is an evil in and of itself, but it is not a religious evil in the beginning, no, it's a human evil. Then obviously, as with every human evil, each killing is condemned.” quote by Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/pope-francis-85_abortion_abortion-is-an-evil-in-and-of-itself-but_1804103.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/pope-francis-85_abortion_abortion-is-an-evil-in-and-of-itself-but_1804103.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/pope-francis-85_abortion_abortion-is-an-evil-in-and-of-itself-but_1804103.png) > “\[Abortion\] is an evil in and of itself, but it is not a religious evil in the beginning, no, it's a human evil. Then obviously, as with every human evil, each killing is condemned.” [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human evil, including abortion, is a moral failing but not inherently religious; each act is condemned. **In simple terms:** Abortion is a human moral issue. Key Takeaway Recognize moral complexity beyond religion. Themes ethics life religion Mood reflective serious Type theological ethical When to use this quote - medical decisions - public policy - personal dilemmas Key Concepts theology human rights Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile personal belief with societal law? - What role should religion play in public ethics? A Different Perspective Religious perspectives may differ on moral judgments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) ## Related quotes > [“No one must ever fancy another human being so much more evil than themselves that killing was justified.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-amanda-salmonson/no-one-must-ever-fancy-another-human-being-so-much-more-evil-than/) [Jessica Amanda Salmonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-amanda-salmonson/) > [Judaism is not just one more religion, but in its way the root of religious evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/judaism-is-not-just-one-more-religion-but-in-its-way-the-root-of/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Whether or not one likes Huntington's formulation, one thing is clear: the evil that has finally reached our shores is not merely the evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/whether-or-not-one-likes-huntington-s-formulation-one-thing-is-clear/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“This secular Leftist denial of human free will is one of the reasons the Left recoils from labeling evil as evil, and (correctly) ascribes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/this-secular-leftist-denial-of-human-free-will-is-one-of-the-reasons/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“Kindly confirm: If someone’s evil, then killing them isn’t murder. It’s SLAYING, and not only legal but encouraged. Correct?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/kindly-confirm-if-someone-s-evil-then-killing-them-isn-t-murder-it-s/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [There is no greater evil than killing. I don't care whether they call it war or justice. Life is precious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/there-is-no-greater-evil-than-killing-i-don-t-care-whether-they-call/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [This was an evil beyond thinking. The killing of a man was not so evil as the killing of a boat. For a boat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/this-was-an-evil-beyond-thinking-the-killing-of-a-man-was-not-so-evil/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“When I say that evil has to do with killing, I do not mean to restrict myself to corporeal murder. Evil is that which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/when-i-say-that-evil-has-to-do-with-killing-i-do-not-mean-to-restrict/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Man's natural and inevitable urge to deny mortality and achieve a heroic self-image are the root causes of human evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/man-s-natural-and-inevitable-urge-to-deny-mortality-and-achieve-a/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [“The moment we forget that even the evil among us are still human is the moment we forget that even the most human among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/the-moment-we-forget-that-even-the-evil-among-us-are-still-human-is/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [There are no explanations for human evil. Only excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/there-are-no-explanations-for-human-evil-only-excuses/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [We are never so poor that we cannot bless another human being, are we? So it is that every evil, whether moral or material,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/we-are-never-so-poor-that-we-cannot-bless-another-human-being-are-we/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [The common trait of all evil is nothing other than egoism... Basically all human evil comes from what we call the selfishness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-steiner/the-common-trait-of-all-evil-is-nothing-other-than-egoism-basically/) [Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-steiner/) > [I have discovered that all human evil comes from this, man's being unable to sit still in a room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/i-have-discovered-that-all-human-evil-comes-from-this-man-s-being/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“After fifty-five years of dedicating his life and work to the story of ethical systems, Sol Weintraub had come to a single, unshakable conclusion:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/after-fifty-five-years-of-dedicating-his-life-and-work-to-the-story/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) ## More by Pope Francis > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [God’s faithfulness is stronger than our unfaithfulness and our infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-s-faithfulness-is-stronger-than-our-unfaithfulness-and-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Most people nowadays would not consider love as related in any way to truth. Love is seen as an experience associated with the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/most-people-nowadays-would-not-consider-love-as-related-in-any-way-to/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The family remains the basic unit of society and the first school in which children learn the human, spiritual and moral values which enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-family-remains-the-basic-unit-of-society-and-the-first-school-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Listen to Jesus and follow him. That's the message of the Transfiguration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/listen-to-jesus-and-follow-him-that-s-the-message-of-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Proceed calmly in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/proceed-calmly-in-life/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I like to say that women are those who form life in their wombs - and this is a comparison I make - they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-like-to-say-that-women-are-those-who-form-life-in-their-wombs-and/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [You cannot insult the faith of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/you-cannot-insult-the-faith-of-others/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [To all people of good will who are working for social justice: never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/to-all-people-of-good-will-who-are-working-for-social-justice-never/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [In Confession, Jesus welcomes us with all our sinfulness, to give us a new heart, capable of loving as he loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/in-confession-jesus-welcomes-us-with-all-our-sinfulness-to-give-us-a/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I pray every day for all who are suffering in Iraq. Please join me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-pray-every-day-for-all-who-are-suffering-in-iraq-please-join-me/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I entrust this Twenty-second World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary. I ask her to help the sick to bear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-entrust-this-twenty-second-world-day-of-the-sick-to-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Certain realities in life are only seen through eyes that are cleansed through our tears. Let us learn how to weep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/certain-realities-in-life-are-only-seen-through-eyes-that-are/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) [Explore all 1,479 Pope Francis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More Abortion quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [Hey everyone, in case y'all didn't hear, I'm pregnat, and after discussing it w/ my family, I've decided to get an abortion, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-badesheim/hey-everyone-in-case-y-all-didn-t-hear-i-m-pregnat-and-after/) Madison Badesheim > [There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/there-was-no-mistake-in-us-making-abortion-legal-and-available-on/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [My favorite Founding Fathers, Christians like John Adams, were absolutely appalled by slavery, and did not own slaves. I think we're going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/my-favorite-founding-fathers-christians-like-john-adams-were/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“David Bereit, Founder of Forty Days for Life, points out that any abortion clinic in America should have a sign in its window that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-price/david-bereit-founder-of-forty-days-for-life-points-out-that-any/) [John Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-price/) > [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I'm a pro-life candidate because I believe that science is proving us right every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-m-a-pro-life-candidate-because-i-believe-that-science-is-proving-us/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [I've noticed that everyone who is for abortion…has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-noticed-that-everyone-who-is-for-abortion-has-been-born/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [We talk a lot about how abortion is a medical procedure, but actually if you look at what the other side is doing, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-northup/we-talk-a-lot-about-how-abortion-is-a-medical-procedure-but-actually/) [Nancy Northup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-northup/) > [“The Vatican won't prosecute pedophile priests but I decide I'm not ready for motherhood and it's condemnation for me? These are the same people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-renee-taylor/the-vatican-won-t-prosecute-pedophile-priests-but-i-decide-i-m-not/) Sonya Renee Taylor > [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [I am 100 percent pro-life and have been my whole life. That means I am opposed to abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hawley/i-am-100-percent-pro-life-and-have-been-my-whole-life-that-means-i-am/) [Josh Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hawley/) > [Any woman should have the right to a safe and legal abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-ford/any-woman-should-have-the-right-to-a-safe-and-legal-abortion/) [Betty Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-ford/) > [“For Republicans, life begins at conception but ends at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-adam-snyder/for-republicans-life-begins-at-conception-but-ends-at-birth/) [J.Adam Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-adam-snyder/) > [I think fundamentally, the real power behind the anti-choice movement in regard to abortion and the opposition to the rights of LGBT Americans is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-w-lynn/i-think-fundamentally-the-real-power-behind-the-anti-choice-movement/) [Barry W. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-w-lynn/) [Browse all 1,629 Abortion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abortion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[Abortion] is an evil in and of itself, but it is not a religious evil in the beginning, no, it's a human evil. 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