Indirect abortion is a term used in Catholic theology for fetal death resulting from medical intervention aimed at saving the life of a pregnant woman. Researchers at the National Catholic Review [1] and AmericanCatholic.org [2] distinguish between “direct abortion,” that is, an end in itself, or a means, and “indirect abortion,” resulting in fetal loss regarded as a "secondary consequence".
For example, if a woman suffers from an ectopic pregnancy (when the fetus develops in her fallopian tubes , and not in the uterus ), then the doctor can remove the fallopian tube as a therapeutic treatment, the purpose of which is to prevent the death of the mother. As a result of this action, the fetus will not live long, but the intention of the procedure and action is the preservation of the woman's life. Therefore, this action is not a direct abortion.
The necessary distinction is made between cases where the life of a pregnant woman is "in danger", on the one hand, and cases where a woman is likely to die without a procedure, as a result of which the fetus will be accidentally destroyed. However, this does not mean that Catholics believe that a direct abortion, even if its goal is to save the life of a pregnant woman, is acceptable. [3] [4]
Content
Humanae Vitae
A similar approach is supported in the encyclical Humanae vitae ( 1968 ), which states that “the Church does not at all consider it illegal to use therapeutic agents necessary to cure diseases of the body, even if they can lead to infertility. Such treatment is allowed even in cases when a decrease in fertility is foreseen, while infertility is not directly intended for any reason whatsoever. ” [5] Pope Paul VI cites here the appeal of Pope Pius XII to the Italian Association of Urology ( 1953 ).
Difference from therapeutic abortion
According to Peruvian Archbishop Jose Antonio Eguren, indirect abortion is different from therapeutic abortion. Mons. Eguren argues that indirect abortion is an extraordinary moral case that has nothing to do with “therapeutic abortion”; according to Catholic doctrine, the concept of "therapeutic abortion" simply does not exist, since abortion is not a cure for anything. [6]
Possible confusion with direct abortion
According to mons. Elio Sgreccia , president of the Pontifical Academy for the Protection of Life , most of the evidence for such an abortion lost their raison d'être. He also said that the progressive expansion of such evidence was often caused by political rather than medical reasons, some of which are related to the eugenic movement . [7]
Often indications for abortion are called tuberculosis, cardiopathy, vascular diseases, diseases of the hematopoietic system (some forms of anemia), kidney diseases, diseases of the liver and pancreas, gastrointestinal diseases associated with pregnancy, chorea, myasthenia gravis, tumors.
However, careful studies of each of them show that the medical grounds for these indications are very limited, and that cases where there is a real danger to the life and / or health of a pregnant woman due to the lack of a therapeutic alternative are in a progressive downtrend (i.e., in an obvious trend lowering). [eight]
Angolan Pope Benedict XVI Speech
Later, Pope Benedict XVI delivered a speech during his visit to Angola, which caused a considerable amount of controversy. It blurred the differences between the direct and indirect type of abortion. The pontiff condemned all types of abortions, even those that seemed to be therapeutic in nature. The Pontifical Council for Public Relations in this regard stated that the Pope’s speech was in support of the teachings of the Church and against some gender-oriented sections of the Maputo Protocol that complements the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights ; [9] [10] The distinction between direct and indirect abortion has also been confirmed.
Notes
- ↑ National Catholic Review
- ↑ AmericanCatholic.org (link not available) . Date of treatment March 30, 2015. Archived March 27, 2014.
- ↑ http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a5.htm
- ↑ Catholic News Agency: “Sister violated more than Catholic teaching in sanctioning abortion, ethicist says” May 19, 2010
- ↑ Humanae Vitae, 15
- ↑ Judge manipulates statements by Father Lombardi to push for abortion in Nicaragua
- ↑ Sgreccia, Elio. Manuel de bioéthique. Paris, Mame-Edifa, 2004, p. 486
- ↑ Sgreccia, Elio. Manuel de bioéthique. Paris, Mame-Edifa, 2004, p. 488
- ↑ Pope reiterates church ban on abortion
- ↑ Radio Vatican (inaccessible link) . Date of treatment March 30, 2015. Archived June 30, 2012.