Day 292: Respect for Human Life

Scripture specifies the prohibition contained in the fifth commandment: "Do not slay the innocent and the righteous." [Ex 23:7] The deliberate murder of an innocent person is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human being, to the golden rule, and to the holiness of the Creator. The law forbidding it is universally valid: it obliges each and every one, always and everywhere. CCC 2261

In today's reading from the Catechism, the Fifth Commandment is introduced: not to kill (murder, really). From the first recorded murder of Abel by his brother Cain (Gen 4:8-12), we see that "anger and envy in man, consequences of original sin" has had the result of where "man has become the enemy of his fellow man" (CCC 2259). We lie, cheat, ridicule, abuse, and even kill each other with only greater efficiency as our technological marvels have advanced. This must be extremely disappointing to the Father, as well as repulsive by the gravely sinful acts we commit upon each other. Blood is the sacred sign of life (Lev 17:4) in the Old Testament, and we are created in His image (Gen 9:6). Therefore, to shed the blood of the innocent is a horribly offensive act to God (CCC 2260) and why we were given the Fifth Commandment (CCC 2261). It is no surprise that Jesus expanded upon this in His Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:21-26) with a "proscription of anger, hatred, and vengeance" (CCC 2262).

The Catechism Compendium summarizes why human life must be respected:

Human life must be respected because it is sacred. From its beginning, human life involves the creative action of God, and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. It is not lawful for anyone directly to destroy an innocent human being. This is gravely contrary to the dignity of the person and the holiness of the Creator. “Do not slay the innocent and the righteous” (Ex 23:7). (#466)

The Catechism Companion Vol III has some good commentary on this:

The dignity of the human person comes directly from God. That is the groundwork for commandments four through ten... The term "kill" that is used in Exodus and Deuteronomy in the Hebrew original is a word that specifically means murder... There is no time when anyone may justify the taking of the life of a person who has done no wrong... Jesus continues to stretch our hearts. He asks his followers to turn the other cheek and to love their neighbors, and he demonstrates this love in laying down his life. We are called to avoid murder, but Jesus calls us higher than that. He calls us to avoid hating others, taking revenge, or becoming wrongfully angry. (p. 100)