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Fetal homicide is a felony crime in at least some states within the United States. The question is not why Catholicism opposes fetal homicide but why secular US laws oppose it unless its the mother along with medical professionals she or some organization contracts to carry out the fetal homicide.
No species on earth has contractual marriages. Only humans. Ever thought why that is if in fact the state (government) should not be involved in individual's consensual sexual lives, as some so claim? "Marriages" are like prayer. Is there such a thing as "secular prayer," if so or if not why? Marriage predates Christianity but seems to have been created--in absence of a welfare state mind you--for the protection of peoples daughters but more especially for issues on inheritance rights among offspring produce from a male and female mating. Marriage--like prayer--very early fell under religion. With all the ceremony and pomp. The secular world eventually decided to protect the institution of marriage because political philosophers viewed *the family* as the basic unit, basic building block, of society and a country.
The family is were the child first learns from parents as instructors on norms and behaviors, rights and wrong.
So, Catholicism allows for annulments (meaning, a sacramental marriage *never existed*). Contrary to what many believe Catholicism teaches that the bride and groom along with God creates the marriage *and not* the Priest nor the Government. The Priest and Church (and community) act as witnesses. Witnesses to what? The sacramental covenant made by the bride and groom with God. The Catholic Church claims to have no authority of marriage. It can only witness to the vows and it can function through Canon Law, Church court, to rule if a sacramental marriage never existed to begin with.
(A sacrament, according to Catholicism, is an outward sign that reveals a greater unseen truth. Matrimony, baptism, vows Holy Orders are some of the 7 sacraments of the Church. The concept is rooted in the idea of the material world having been blessed by God, and demonstrated by Jesus to be used in the life of man for good and salvation.)
So, the Catholic Church generally opposes divorce (meaning the couple are in fact married), and I think there are some exceptions but I might be wrong on that, but it opposes divorce because it is viewed as married people abandoning their vows and duties. Kind of like secular people don't look well upon what they term "Dead Beat Dads."
The Church does not say married people with serious problems can not separate. But they still remain married. Again, unless an annulment is given, which basically means a sacramental marriage never existed. Certain criteria must be in place for a sacramental marriage. Certain deceptions on one party can not be present when taking the vows. Another one I know of is a person can not be forced to marry. (Forced marriages are different than arranged marriages, the later is where parents "set up" their kids, but the kids retain the choice to marry x person or not.)
So, I'm saying all this to say, Catholic Church teaching on divorce and abortion does not parallel the issue Muslim lay women being covered up from head to toe in London (not Jerusalem). Unless you are prepared to draw parallels with secular laws which place all sorts of restrictions on people. I'm pretty sure if you start walking butt naked in Times Square in New York City with your male genitals swinging in the air, New York City cops are going to arrest you. Is that the same as the burka issue? Maybe it is in the broad sense of rules and laws exist throughout all spheres of life.
Thanks for the exposition but I think you're really missing my point. I'm not discussing the morality of divorce or abortion or the interplay of Canon and secular law. I was simply pointing out that all religions restrict their adherents freedoms, be it a Muslim woman who wears a burqa, a Jewish person who cannot eat pork or a Christian who can't get an abortion. And though I have strong opinions on divorce and abortion which you can easily find out for yourself by searching what I've written on the topics in this forum for purposes of this post my opinion on those topics is irrelevant.