American News | 06/13/2004 | Gray areas surround... -
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Published on: 6/13/2004
Last Visited: 6/14/2004
"The church does not accept that," said Travis Benson, co-director of the Respect Life Office of the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls.
Catholic teaching, called the catechism, teaches that any direct abortion is wrong - no exceptions.The catechism defines direct, or procured, abortion as one that is "willed as an ends or a means."Direct abortion includes those resulting from rape, incest or a mother's poor health.Formal cooperation in an abortion is grounds for excommunication, the catechism says.
If a fetus aborts as an unintended consequence of medical treatment, the church does not view such abortion as sin, Benson said.