In chapter three of the papal encyclical Evangelium Viate or also know as The Gospel of Life, the Pope discusses the commandment "You shall not kill" and how it applies to certain modern day situations such as abortion, pre-natal care, and euthanasia. The first issue discussed is abortion. It states that the commandment of "you shall not kill" applies to ALL human life, this includes children despite the fact if it's born or unborn. The defense on how the fetus can't technically be a "life" up to a certain number of days is also dealt with in this chapter. The encyclical states that from the time the ovum is fertilized the fetus is considered a life in the Church's eyes, so by killing it you therefore commit murder, a mortal sin. The encyclical also discusses the morality of pre-natal diagnostic techniques, to detect possible birth defects before birth. It says that while some care is licit, trying to prevent defects in order to make the child "normal" and opening the possibil!
             ity of infanticide and euthanasia is defiantly not. It also addresses the act of euthanasia or "mercy killing". Even though one may feel that it is the right thing to do by putting one in pain "out of their misery" the Church strictly forbids it. God will take them when it is their time to die; to induce death despite if the intentions were good is murder.
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