Abortion and Excommunicated

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SoulRebel777

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Is it true that If a Catholic has an Abortion or pays for the Abortion they are excommunicated? What about if they go to confession and then repent of this Sin of Abortion can they be excepted back into the church?

Also is the Church against abortion even when the life of the mother is at risk?

Thank you
 
If you’ve been directly involved in an abortion, the Church teaches that you become excommunicated. This means that you cannot receive the sacraments worthily until the excommunication is lifted. Usually only the bishop has this power, but since abortion is unfortunately very common, most bishops have given dispensations to their priests to remove the excommunication.

But if someone has been involved in an abortion, it is important to understand that God can and does forgive sins. One has to be be sorry and go to confession. You receive absolution, which is very important. I think (my own private opinion) is that sometimes people feel that what they did is is so terrible, God could never forgive them. Then it sort of fosters some type of resentment, “I’m not a bad person, what does the Church know about my situation.” But I also think the Church is very compassionate to sinners who repent.

As for abortion regarding the life of the mother, the belief of the Church is that direct abortion is never permitted. If a woman is very ill, say with cancer, she can be treated with chemotherapy. Sometimes the unborn child doesn’t survive this treatment…but this would not be considered a direct abortion.

If the same woman is told, well you need to terminate the pregnancy because you have cancer, and then we can treat the cancer, this becomes a direct abortion.

Hope I was helpful.
 
As for the mother’s life question, the principle of double effect applies. Say, for instance it is a tubal pregnancy, the mother’s life has to be saved but for that the happen the child must die. The purpose of the abortion taking place would be to save a life. If a woman has an abortion solely to kill her child for convenience, then that is a direct abortion.
 
StratusRose said:
As for the mother’s life question, the principle of double effect applies. Say, for instance it is a tubal pregnancy, the mother’s life has to be saved but for that the happen the child must die. The purpose of the abortion taking place would be to save a life. If a woman has an abortion solely to kill her child for convenience, then that is a direct abortion.
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No Stratus, this is incorrect.

The principle of double effect does NOT mean that a woman can have an abortion for the “purpose” of saving her life.

The principle of double effect means a woman can be treated for a disease/problem/condition *even if *that treatment results in the unintended death of the child. The goal is always to save BOTH.

An abortion is NEVER a treatment for a disease, problem, or condition.
 
SoulRebel777 said:
Is it true that If a Catholic has an Abortion or pays for the Abortion they are excommunicated?
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Yes. This is true. Excommunication means that a Catholic is barred from receiving the Sacraments.
SoulRebel777 said:
What about if they go to confession and then repent of this Sin of Abortion can they be excepted back into the church?
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Yes, of course.
SoulRebel777 said:
Also is the Church against abortion even when the life of the mother is at risk?
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Abortion is wrong in ALL circumstances.

A woman may receive *treatment *for a life-threatening condition. The child may die as an unintended result, which is NOT an abortion. But the goal is always saving both of them.
 
So If the Boyfriend who got the girl pregant aND WHO pays for the abortion, hes not excommunicated? he just needs to go to confession and repent correct?
 
1ke said:
No Stratus, this is incorrect.

The principle of double effect does NOT mean that a woman can have an abortion for the “purpose” of saving her life.

**The principle of double effect means a woman can be treated for a disease/problem/condition *even if ***that treatment results in the unintended death of the child. The goal is always to save BOTH.

An abortion is NEVER a treatment for a disease, problem, or condition.
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Thanks, 1ke, this is what I was trying to get across.
 
is the boyfriend excommunicated because he got the woman pregnant and pay for the abortion? Can he just go to confession and repent to be back in right standing??
 
Just a reminder that confession to a priest is only valid if the person is repentant and doesn’t want to commit that sin again…and if the person receives absolution…
 
SoulRebel777 said:
So If the Boyfriend who got the girl pregant aND WHO pays for the abortion, hes not excommunicated? he just needs to go to confession and repent correct?
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Can. 1398 A person who procures a completed abortion incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.

You can read this link regarding the interpretation of this canon as it applies to accomplices to the abortion. It appears they too are under excommunication if they meet the criteria– which includes knowing it was an excommunicable offense and also regarding their age and other circumstances.

The priest in Confession would guide the person as to their state under Canon Law and any steps they needed to take beyond Confession for the lifting of excommunication.
 
There are many different things to be known about the situation. The best thing to do is to got confession with this sin and the priest will direct you the way that is needed. It is very unlikly you would need to see a bishop ofver this just once in the confessional and you are forgiven and back in full comunion with the church.

Thank God for the Sacrament of confession.

Just remember there is no sin greater than Gods mercy.
 
The information that I’ve been told in the past is slightly different in terms of the procedure for how one is forgiven for abortion. It is certainly true that one needs to go to confession for forgiveness. However, I remember my (wonderful and completely orthodox) priest talking once in a class about what happens if someone comes and confesses abortion. He said that he needs to give them a “name” (e.g. Jane) and tell them to return in 3-4 weeks. In the meantime, he is required to write to the Vatican as the only person who can lift an excommunication is the Pope. So, once she returns in 3-4 weeks (can’t remember how long) and says “It’s Jane”, then he can forgive her as he’s heard back by then.

That class was about 3 years ago so perhaps my memory is fuzzy, but that’s what I remember. Does that sound right to anyone else?
 
Under canon law, someone is excommunicated if they obtain a completed abortion and also meet the requirements under canon law for the imputation of guilt, which include being of or above the age of responsibility, not being compelled to act out of grave fear or necessity, and also having sound mind.

I think as abortion is so common in most dioceses the bishops would delegate the authority to remit the excommunication to the local priests. I assume in most cases a visit to the confessional and an honest and sincere confession would be all that is required to have it lifted.

“is the boyfriend excommunicated because he got the woman pregnant and pay for the abortion? Can he just go to confession and repent to be back in right standing??”

If he is Catholic, yes, as material co-operation in getting an abortion also gets one excommunicated. The same process would apply to the person who got the abortion in terms of remission of the penalty.
 
Sasha,
There are so many confessing abortion that many Bishops have ‘delegated’ the lifting of ex -communication to priests so that they may give absolution and receive the person back into the church at that confession. No need for ‘pseudonyms’ or writing to the Pope himself.

Karen
 
I just received about 5 different answers… whats the right one?
 
Here’s some stuff from the Catholic catechism. Hope it helps.

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:
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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.
2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. “A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,” “by the very commission of the offense,” and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law. The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.

2322 From its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a “criminal” practice (GS 27 § 3), gravely contrary to the moral law. The Church imposes the canonical penalty of excommunication for this crime against human life.

2274 Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being.

Prenatal diagnosis is morally licit, “if it respects the life and integrity of the embryo and the human fetus and is directed toward its safe guarding or healing as an individual. . . . It is gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent of a death sentence.”
 
SoulRebel777 said:
I just received about 5 different answers… whats the right one?
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Well, I would disregard my response. I was going from memory something I heard a few years ago. Even if my memory is somewhat correct, he was probably telling us what used to happen. Sorry for the confusion. :o
 
SoulRebel777 said:
I just received about 5 different answers… whats the right one?
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No, you did not get 5 different answers. You got the same answer from numerous people:

(1) Procuring an abortion or assisting in a material way (talking someone into an abortion, driving her to the abortion, paying for it, performing the abortion, etc) is objectively a mortal sin.

(2) Procuring an abortion (including helping someone else get one) is an offense for which excommunication is automatic** if **all of the criteria necessary for excommunication exist (including knowledge of the offense, age of the person, degree of participation, etc). This is outlined in canon law as outlined in posts above.

(3) A person who has participated in an abortion should go to their priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation because regardless of whether they are excommunicated they are in mortal sin. Start with the priest in the confessional and seek guidance from that priest on what, if anything, needs to be done *beyond *Confession to lift excommunication. It varies by where you are in the world because the Bishops can set the procedures in their own diocese.

We cannot be more specific than that because it’s unique to the situation and the location of the individual involved.
 
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