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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 9/23/2009


Question
Hi Father,
  I was wondering about ectopic pregnancies. I'm extremely pro-life, and don't believe in abortions, fertility treatments, or contraceptions.
   I saw a show the other day where a girl had an ectopic pregnancy and they had to surgically remove the fetus. I know how the church feels about abortion, but what about ectopic pregnancies? It puts the mothers life in danger, but the only thing to do is give her an abortion. What does the church teach about this? What if the mother doesn't want an abortion, but in this situation, she has to have one to help her?
  I've been trying to work these questions out myself since I saw the show. I haven't come up with a good enough answer to satisfy me, and was hoping you could help.

Thank You for your time :)

Answer
Hi, Amber:
Thanks for the question.
The general principle is that one may not do an evil such as directly killing the unborn baby in its mother.  As the baby grows to a point that it endangers the mother's life and causes life-threatening bleeding, the efforts used to stop the bleeding will most likely kill the baby; but this is an indirect result of the medical treatment to stop the bleeding.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

Expertise

A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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