The Catholic Church teaches that abortion — the direct and intentional killing of an unborn child — is a grave moral evil at every stage of development, from conception onward. This teaching is rooted in the Fifth Commandment ('You shall not kill'), the consistent witness of Sacred Tradition from the earliest centuries (the Didache, c. 70 AD, states: 'You shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is born'), and the natural law principle that every human life possesses inherent dignity. The Catechism states: 'Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception' (CCC 2270). Formal cooperation in an abortion incurs automatic excommunication (latae sententiae) under Canon Law, though this can be lifted through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Church also emphasizes compassion and healing for women who have had abortions, through ministries such as Project Rachel, and strongly supports alternatives including adoption and material assistance for mothers in need.