Human life
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that Human life "must be treated from conception as a person." Thomas P. Rausch states,"Although the church has not determined officially when human life actually begins, it has taken the course of maintaining that human life is present from the moment of conception or fertilization." On the other hand, Carol A. Tauer states,”Such speculations have arisen within the context of an authoritative Church teaching: the Catholic Church, in its official magisterium, asserts that human life must be given equal protection at all stages from fertilization through adulthood.”