Canon 1398 provides that, "a person who procures a successful abortion incurs an automatic (latae sententiae) excommunication." So - at the very moment that the abortion is successfully accomplished, the woman and all formal conspirators are excommunicated. However, To actually be excommunicated, one must know that it is an excommunicable offense at the time. Canon 1323 provides that the following do not incur a sanction: those who are not yet 16, are unaware of a law, do not advert to it or are in error about its scope, were forced or had an unforeseeable accident, acted out of grave fear, or who lacked the use of reason (except culpably, as by drunkenness). For example, a woman forced by an abusive husband to have an abortion would not incur an excommunication, but someone culpably under the influence of drugs or alcohol would (canon 1325).

Harsh I know, but true.

well if they cannot accept that your body is your own, then why would you want to be affiliated with them. They have no right to tell people what to do with their own bodies. If I were a Catholic woman, I would tell them, my business is my own, and that is that, have a issue, here's a tissue.

Yup. It's not very becoming, considering the name....but what are you gonna do, right?

Yes. Excommunication is a severe penalty resulting from grave crimes against the Catholic religion. It is imposed by church authority or incurred as a direct result of the commission of an offense. Excommunication excludes the offender from taking part in the Eucharist or other sacraments and from the exercise of any ecclesiastical office, ministry, or function. Excommunication does not mean a loss of salvation. However, the crime committed that was penalized by it might be a mortal sin. There are a few offenses for which Latin Rite Roman Catholics are automatically excommunicated (the Latin term is Latæ Sententiæ): • Apostasy - the formal renunciation of one's religion, especially if the motive is deemed unworthy • Heresy • Desecration of the Eucharist • Physical force against the Pope • Attempted sacramental absolution of a partner in adultery • Ordination of a bishop without a Papal mandate (e.g. all bishops in the government-run Chinese Patriotic Church) • For non-electors present in the conclave, revelation of the details of the conclave • Simoniacal provision of the Papal office • Violation of the sacramental seal of confession by a priest or bishop • Procurement of a completed abortion Remember the purpose of excommunication is the correction and redemption of the person who has chosen to separate himself or herself from the Church. For more information, see: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05678a.htm With love in Christ.

Good for them. Nice to know some folks still value life.

G'day Mvl, Thank you for your question. No I wasn't until today when I found out that a 9 year old girl who had an abortion after being raped had been excommunicated. http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/07/that_inhuman_monolith.php This decision shows that dogma has triumphed over common sense in such circumstances. Regards

The Catholic Church should pay half the attention it does to abortions to the child molestation performed by their priests