Because today’s laws generally differentiate between murder and abortion, the Church goes the extra step of publicizing the fact that abortion IS murder.
With all respect Mark, I read the OP as a question of church law, not the Church’s response to civil law. I think the OP is asking why the Church doesn’t excommunicate for murder. If we hold that abortion is the intentional taking of a life, the OP, as I read it, is asking why the taking of a life, murder, isn’t an excommunicable offense?
The excommuniation is automatic (does not require a bishop to pronounce it), and is incurred by the very act of getting an abortion .Is it really enforced, though? Does anyone know a woman who is Catholic, had an abortion and was excommunicated because of it? I’ve never heard of it actually happening.
Do you have a reference for that? Excommunication, as I understand it, is a formal process. From the Catholic Encyclopedia newadvent.org/cathen/05678a.htm :sorry here’s my reference
Who can excommunicate?
Excommunication is an act of ecclesiastical jurisdiction, the rules of which it follows. Hence the general principle: whoever has jurisdiction in the forum externum, properly so called, can excommunicate, but only his own subjects. Therefore, whether excommunications be a jure (by the law) or ab homine (under form of sentence or precept), they may come from the pope alone or a general council for the entire Church; from the provincial council for an ecclesiastical province; from the bishop for his diocese; from the prelate nullius for quasi-diocesan territories; and from regular prelates for religious orders. Moreover, anyone can excommunicate who, by virtue of his office, even when delegated, has contentious jurisdiction in the forum externum; for instance, papal legates, vicars capitular, and vicars-general. But a parish priest cannot inflict this penalty nor even declare that it is incurred, i.e. he cannot do so in an official and judicial manner. The subjects of these various authorities are those who come under their jurisdiction chiefly on account of domicile or quasi-domicile in their territory; then by reason of the offence committed while on such territory; and finally by reason of personal right, as in the case of regulars.
Latae sententiae is the type of excommunication you are looking for.
Who can excommunicate?
Excommunication is an act of ecclesiastical jurisdiction, the rules of which it follows. Hence the general principle: whoever has jurisdiction in the forum externum, properly so called, can excommunicate, but only his own subjects. Therefore, whether excommunications be a jure (by the law) or ab homine (under form of sentence or precept), they may come from the pope alone or a general council for the entire Church; from the provincial council for an ecclesiastical province; from the bishop for his diocese; from the prelate nullius for quasi-diocesan territories; and from regular prelates for religious orders. Moreover, anyone can excommunicate who, by virtue of his office, even when delegated, has contentious jurisdiction in the forum externum; for instance, papal legates, vicars capitular, and vicars-general. But a parish priest cannot inflict this penalty nor even declare that it is incurred, i.e. he cannot do so in an official and judicial manner. The subjects of these various authorities are those who come under their jurisdiction chiefly on account of domicile or quasi-domicile in their territory; then by reason of the offence committed while on such territory; and finally by reason of personal right, as in the case of regulars.
I believe most bishops have given the power to the priests to lift excommunication from women who have had an abortion in the confessional. I think reason is, that in the US anyways, abortions are legal and “easy” to get, as well as the secular culture saying it’s “okay.”
You are absolutely right. Let’s also not forget the doctor and nurses assisting.
I’m sorry. The very first words of my post should have read:
The prohibition against homicide has been deliberated for centuries by the great thinkers of the Church. While murder is a grave sin, there are justifications, excuses, and defenses to certain types of homicide, such as the concept of a “just war”, the justification of “defense of others” to name a couple.