In a very controversial case last November, Sister Margaret McBride (a nun of the Sisters of Mercy and member of the St. Joseph’s Ethics Committee) authorized the obstetric abortion of an 11-week-old fetus in order to save the life of the mother (a parent of four other children who was suffering a rare, life-threatening condition called pulmonary hypertension). The hospital has supported this decision, but Bishop Thomas Olmsted denounced it and announced her excommunication. He has been supported in this by the US Council of Catholic Bishops. So the question for today is two-fold: are there any cases in which direct abortion can be justified, and what should be done with a nun in a case such as this?
Abortion decision at St. Joseph's (chronological order):
Background: Catholic doctrine on abortion (Catholic Answers)
Background: Christianity and abortion (Wikipedia)
Background: Abortion (Catholic Encyclopedia)
Background: Ethical, Religious Directives
Statements by Bishop and St. Joseph’s (AZ Republic)
Official statement by Bishop Olmstead (Catholic Sun)
Q&A on the case for the archdiocese (Catholic Sun)
Nun excommunicated (Catholic Reporter)
St. Joseph’s nun rebuked for life-saving abortion (AZ Republic)
Nun excommunicated (NPR)
Nun excommunicated for abortion decision (CBS)
Sister Margaret McBride: Don’t confess (NPR)
Sister Margaret’s choice (NYT)
Steadfast silence says it all (AZ Republic)
US bishops back Olmstead (Catholic News Agency)
ACLU asks feds to investigate (Catholic News Agency)
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