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While St Augustine did subscribe to the Aristotlean view vis a vis animated and unanimated unborn babies, the Churchs position from the Didache on was that abortion is wrong. Eg. “The hairsplitting difference between formed and unformed [ensouled and unensouled fetus] makes no difference to us. Whoever deliberately commits abortion is subject to the penalty for homicide.” 4th Century St Basil.

St Augustines views on early development of the fetus were not what one would call biologically apt.

Life begins at conception. God says He knew us before we were in the womb. God deals in souls. Ergo, ensoulment and conception go hand in hand.

Life begins at conception. God says He knew us before we were in the womb. God deals in souls. Ergo, ensoulment and conception go hand in hand.

It seems so simple, a near application of the transitive principle, A=B, and B=C, and therefore A=C, but ... there are always first principles to be assumed aren't there?

Life begins at conception. God says He knew us before we were in the womb. God deals in souls. Ergo, ensoulment and conception go hand in hand.

Wonder why the Church didn't realize that for about 1200 years? And of course, not everyone would agree with you on a couple of points. Life, yes. Human life, maybe. Your conclusion on ensoulment and conception merely state an opinion, not a scientific proof. Which is why many do not accept that theory.

"St. Thomas and other theologians spoke about life beginning at the moment of quickening or ensoulment, taken to be when the baby is first felt to move in the womb. But we now know that life begins earlier, at the beginning, and that therefore ensoulment must also be earlier." I'm reminded of the Angel's conversation with The Virgin Mary, that she would conceive in her womb and the Life would be an Holy thing, The Son Of God. Either Mary conceived when her egg was fertilized by The Holy Spirit (so mundane I don't even entertain the notion), or Mary became pregnant when the new Individual Life was present inside her (the Life was conceived prior to being placed inside her womb and thus the Life was already Jesus, The Son Of God then implanted into Mary's body; the vital question is 'was the Spirit present with the Soul when the LIFE was placed inside Mary's body' and the scriptures indicate The Son Of God was placed inside Mary's body so yes, the Spirit was present with the Soul at that event), even prior to her visit to Elizabeth because the baby in Elizabeth's body recognized The Lord present and lept with joy.