The horror presented by the increasing institutionalisation of abortion in contemporary society poses some of the strongest moral and theological questions of our time. Moral reason convinces the Catholic Church of the intrinsic evil of abortion, but so too do the witness of the Scriptures and the divine revelation of redemption.

The innocent suffering of children killed in the womb raises fundamental questions. Here are the reflections of a group of distinguished theologians who met at the Abbey of Solesmes for a Consultation to explore the issues raised by the place of these children in the plan of Salvation. Can the Church declare 'holy martyrs' little children slain by abortion?

"I find the argument impressive ... I am sure that this study could continue and would be of real service to the Church. It would certainly be of direct revelance to the plague of abortion, which is not only evil in itself, but also conducive to a climate and culture which can really be called 'a culture of death', and which manifests itself in so many ways in today's world, particularly in the field of biogenetics and so-called therapeutic cloning. The practice of abortion has not only killed unborn children, it has also killed, or at least anaesthetised, consciences in respect of the sacredness and inviolability of human lide." Cardinal Cahal B. Daly