Throughout the centuries, Christians held fast to this teaching. It was not until secular laws were enacted (such as the U.S. Supreme Court Roe v. Wade ruling) that attitudes in Christian societies changed. However, the Catholic Church has never deviated from the original teaching of the early apostles. The Catechism has this to say about abortion:

2271 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law:

You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish. *

God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.

*[Barnabas, Epistula 19, 5]
Never be in two minds as to whether something is or is not to be. Never make free with the Name of the Lord. Never do away with an unborn child, or destroy it after its birth. Do not withhold your hand from your son or your daughter, but bring them up in the fear of God from their childhood.