Analysis of Gender

[Christus Imperat]

Well, you are giving me plenty to think about.  I'll keep reading my Garrigou-Lagrange and see what I come up with here.  I admit to not being altogether solid on these finer points of philosophy.

Ensoulment is another interesting issue.  I believe St. Thomas' position on this is not necessary to his metaphysical system but the result of his understanding of biology from the contemporary science.  He didn't know about DNA and that sort of thing, so as far as he knew, it may have taken awhile for the separate matter from the man and woman to form into a new substance (in the philosophical sense). 

Regardless, abortion was always immoral and is immoral as a form of contraception.

I think this point needs to be embraced by pro-lifers, because we are constantly going down utilitarian dead ends about whether a fetus feels pain or has a heart beat or a developed brain or what-not.  If we reaffirm the immorality of contraception, those things simply concern the gravity of the crime, and not whether it is a crime.

This has become rather wide-ranging as a topic, though again, I'm enjoying it so I don't mind.

[QuisUtDeus]

I think this point needs to be embraced by pro-lifers, because we are constantly going down utilitarian dead ends about whether a fetus feels pain or has a heart beat or a developed brain or what-not.  If we reaffirm the immorality of contraception, those things simply concern the gravity of the crime, and not whether it is a crime.

Yep, the Vatican statement makes clear it is irrelevant if it is ensouled or not, the body itself is uniquely human and therefore constitutes an immoral act.  Abortion and contraception in themselves have always been held to be immoral by the Church.