 |
| Part of a series of articles on |
| Abortion and the Catholic Church |
|---|
|
Official opposition |
 Catholic Church portal |
Indirect abortion is the name given by Catholic theologians to a medical procedure which has a beneficial medical effect and also results in an abortion as a secondary effect. Edwin F. Healy makes a distinction between "direct abortions" that is, abortion which is either an end or a means, and "indirect abortions", where the loss of the fetus is then considered to be a "secondary effect".[1]
The relevant distinction may be between cases where the woman's life may be "in jeopardy", and cases where the woman would almost certainly die without the procedure that would also destroy the fetus. However, this does not mean the Catholic Church teaches that a direct abortion, even when intended to save the life of a woman, is not sinful.[2][3]
- ^ "Indirect Abortion". EWTN Global Catholic Television Network. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
- ^ "Catechism of the Catholic Church - The fifth commandment". www.vatican.va. Archived from the original on 2002-09-06.
- ^ Catholic News Agency: "Sister violated more than Catholic teaching in sanctioning abortion, ethicist says" May 19, 2010