The church has gone from a philosophical acceptance of capital punishment (see for example Augustine and Aquinas) to enthusiastic participation in torture and killing of heretics during the inquisition, to now saying it's 'inadmissible'.
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Both were speaking of the good for the whole community when in danger, that is the part that has been developed through the centuries.Let's not get too caught up in this development as it has taken more than 500 years to be developed as it stands today. If you want to call it a change - fine - it is for the sake of including teachings on abortion . The Church does not want to contradict Herself by seeming to accept one and not the other. The Inquisition and other dark times in church history were shameful, they included the participation of secular bodies and other denominations as well. It is impossible to justify such times at all, but individuals will be held accountable and not the entire Church, on the day of judgment .
There are plenty of other examples of change of emphasis and substance in Church teaching.
We are speaking about moral teachings not traditions Faz.
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