Submitted by Ben Bentrup, May 11, 2007 11:37

The ex-communication sentence is given laete-sententiae, which means automatically. It is not given by the bishops, although they may send a formal letter recognizing the state. It is given by a Catholic individual to him- or herself, if he or she commits an action that directly, and with their full knowledge and consent, procures or facilitates an abortion. Voting for increased abortion legalization, driving a woman to an abortion clinic, or asking a doctor to abort your baby are some examples. The Catholic Church does not make exceptions ever for direct abortion, even in the case of endangerment to the woman's life. Some licit medical procedures may be undertaken to save a woman's life (when there is no other way to do so) where the unintentional consequences might result in the death of the fetus - but that is not a direct abortion, and even as such, very hard to prove as necessary with modern medical science. I hope that clarifies two points in your article. Respectfully, Ben Bentrup

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