A Topic of Moral Theology

Direct and indirect killing of the innocent

Never lawful directly; permitted indirectly by double effect

Also asked about as…

accidentally killing someone · killing an innocent person (ed.)

In the index as Ectopic gestation · Killing · Innocent · Innocent person (Innocens) · Abortion · Danger (Periculum) · Direct homicide · Embryotomy · Fetus · Hostages (Obsides) · Hysterectomy · Killing of self · Premature delivery · To kill an innocent person directly is a most grave sin · A physician ought to possess competent knowledge · Conceptus · Direct and indirect killing of an innocent person · Double effect · Homicide · Homicides (Homicidae) · Life · Murder · Ovariotomy · Principle of double effect

In the manuals

A Manual of Moral Theology for English-Speaking Countries

Vol. I, Bk. VI, Pt. V, Chapter IV. Killing the Innocent, nn. 1 & 2 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Compendium of Moral Theology of Fr. John Peter Gury, S.J., with the Notes of Antonio Ballerini, S.J.

Vol. I, Treatise On the Precepts o…, On the Fifth Precept of th…, Ch. II, Art. III, § I. On the Killing of the Innocent in General, nn. 400 & 401 (8 passages — hover a number to read it)

Synopsis of Moral and Pastoral Theology

Vol. III, Contracts, and the Obligat…, On the Virtue of Justice (…, Part I — Chapter II: On Injury, or the Violation of Right, nn. 312, 313, 314 & 315 (4 passages — hover a number to read it)

Pastoral Questions

Merkelbach, Pastoral Questions, II. Questions Concerning E…, I. Pastoral Questions Rega…, Question Two: Concerning Actions Harmful to Human Life or Integrity — Theological Principles, nn. ¶817–¶834 (18 passages)

Merkelbach, Pastoral Questions, II. Questions Concerning E…, I. Pastoral Questions Rega…, Question Five: Concerning the Procuring of Abortion, nn. ¶896–¶911 (16 passages)

Merkelbach, Pastoral Questions, II. Questions Concerning E…, I. Pastoral Questions Rega…, Question Six: Concerning Artificial Premature Delivery, nn. ¶934, ¶935, ¶936, ¶937, ¶938, ¶939, ¶940, ¶941, ¶942, ¶943, ¶944 & ¶945 (12 passages — hover a number to read it)

Merkelbach, Pastoral Questions, II. Questions Concerning E…, I. Pastoral Questions Rega…, Question Seven: Concerning Ectopic or Extrauterine Fetuses, nn. ¶946, ¶947, ¶948, ¶949, ¶950, ¶951, ¶952, ¶953, ¶954, ¶955, ¶956 & ¶957 (12 passages — hover a number to read it)

Merkelbach, Pastoral Questions, IIbis. Questions Concernin…, I. On Operations During Pr…, Question Two: On Embryotomy, or on Incisions Which Injure the Fetus, nn. ¶1202–¶1264 (63 passages)

Article I: On Excision of the Diseased Pregnant Uterus, nn. ¶1309–¶1368 (60 passages)

Article II: On Puncture of the Amnion, nn. ¶1377–¶1395 (19 passages)

Merkelbach, Pastoral Questions, IIbis. Questions Concernin…, I. On Operations During Pr…, Question Four: On Operations concerning Ectopic Fetuses, nn. ¶1426–¶1461 (36 passages)

Article I: On Removal of the Fetal Sac, nn. ¶1462, ¶1463, ¶1464, ¶1465, ¶1466, ¶1467, ¶1468, ¶1469, ¶1470, ¶1471 & ¶1472 (11 passages — hover a number to read it)

Article II: On Removal of the Oviduct Containing the Fetus, nn. ¶1473–¶1497 (25 passages)

Article III: On Ligation of the Arteries, nn. ¶1498, ¶1499, ¶1500, ¶1501 & ¶1502 (5 passages — hover a number to read it)

Manuale Theologiae Moralis

Vol. II, Tr. XI, Sect. I, Q. III, Ch. III, Art. III, § 2, 5. On The Killing Of The Innocent In General, nn. 131 & 132 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Theologia Moralis Sancti Alphonsi: Reduced into a Compendium

Vol. I, TREATISE ON THE PRECEPTS O…, Ch. II, Art. III, § I. On the killing of an innocent in general, nn. ¶472 & ¶473 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Summa Theologiae Moralis

Vol. II, Special Moral Theology: On…, Treatise: On the Cardinal …, Third Part: Concerning Com…, Section B: On Justice and …, Ch. I, Question Three: On the Killing of One's Neighbor, nn. 359 & 360 (15 passages — hover a number to read it)

Compendium of Moral Theology

Vol. I, Tr. VI, On the Fifth Precept of th…, Ch. II, Art. III, § I. On the Killing of an Innocent Person in General, nn. 270 & 271 (2 passages — hover a number to read it)

Treated under the broader heading Killing the Innocent — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology · McHugh–Callan, Moral Theology · Bucceroni, Institutions of Moral Theology · Koch–Preuss · Marc, Institutiones Morales · The Casuist — these works do not divide the matter as finely as we do here, so their treatment stands one heading up (ed.)