Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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JURIDICAL RIGHTS

Those in whose defense or recovery a person may use force or might. Thus the right to life and to property is juridical because normally they are defensible by physical means. An unborn child does not have the strength to defend its right to life. But though physically violated, the right itself remains, for it is still morally inviolable, which is of the essence of right. This has grave practical implications in defending the juridical right to life of the unborn when threatened by abortion.