Tuesday, March 4, 2008

In his Feb. 28 letter to the editor, Julian Bauer stated that "according to the Catholic catechism, abortion is a serious sin" ["Catholic Tenets and the Vote"].

This categorical statement needs qualification. At least two forms of abortion, called "indirect," are permitted by the Roman Catholic Church. One is in the case of a cancerous uterus, whereby to save the mother's life the uterus must be removed. The death of the fetus is foreseen but not directly intended. The other case is that of an ectopic pregnancy, whereby the lives of mother and embryo are both threatened.

The condemnation of abortion is made on the basis of rational arguments, not revelation, and a person not convinced by the arguments has a right to dissent from the teaching. This is standard Catholic teaching on conscience and its relationship to authority.

PAUL SURLIS

Crofton

The writer is a Catholic priest.