[Campion]

I have been told that the church didn't specifically say abortion was a no-no until the 19th century.

Abortion was condemned way back in the Didache, which was written around AD 80.

There have been arguments back and forth over the years about whether early abortion was morally identical to murder, or was some lesser (but still serious) sin. The position that abortion is a serious sin has been essentially constant teaching since the beginning.

[siunevada]

The Didache is a curious little document.

The prohibition against infanticide gives an idea of the age of it. If that was still an acceptable practice in the wider society, it is quite old.

Didache 2.2:
....thou shalt not murder a child by abortion nor kill them when born