St. Basil the Great: "Destruction of the embryo is an additional crime"

● "The woman who purposely destroys her unborn child is guilty of murder. With us there is no nice enquiry as to its being formed or unformed. In this case it is not only the being about to be born who is vindicated, but the woman in her attack upon herself; because in most cases women who make such attempts die. The destruction of the embryo is an additional crime, a second murder, at all events if we regard it as done with intent."

● "Women also who administer drugs to cause abortion, as well as those who take poisons to destroy unborn children, are murderesses." ─ Letter 188, VIII.

~St. Basil the Great of Caesarea (c.329-379): Letter 188, para. II and VIII. To Anfilochius, Bishop of Iconia.