Expert: Edward Bode - 12/23/2010

Question
This was taken from the Catholic Encyclopedia..what does this mean? In regards to when an abortion can be done...

"However, if medical treatment or surgical operation, necessary to save a mother's life, is applied to her organism (though the child's death would, or at least might, follow as a regretted but unavoidable consequence), it should not be maintained that the fetal life is thereby directly attacked. Moralists agree that we are not always prohibited from doing what is lawful in itself, though evil consequences may follow which we do not desire. The good effects of our acts are then directly intended, and the regretted evil consequences are reluctantly permitted to follow because we cannot avoid them. The evil thus permitted is said to be indirectly intended. It is not imputed to us provided four conditions are verified, namely:

•That we do not wish the evil effects, but make all reasonable efforts to avoid them;
•That the immediate effect be good in itself;
•That the evil is not made a means to obtain the good effect; for this would be to do evil that good might come of it — a procedure never allowed;
•That the good effect be as important at least as the evil effect.
Thanks!

Answer
I am not a moral theologian and do not answer practical moral questions.  
However, I can provide some thoughts [not practical moral advice] about one situation that fits what the encyclopedia describes.
Today, moralists usually talk about the principle of the double [or two-fold] effect, that is,when two effects -- one good [direct]and one bad [indirect] -- result from an action but the bad does not cause the good.  What circumstances justify such an action?
The vintage encyclopedia is speaking about an indirect abortion -- the death of the fetus does not save the mother’s life, so the death of the fetus is not a direct but an indirect result.
I give one example to illustrate the theoretical issue: a cancerous uterus in early pregnancy.  The first issue is whether one can save both the mother and the baby.    If both cannot be saved, here is a general analysis:  If a mother-to-be with a cancerous uterus cannot delay a surgery needed to save her life until the fetus is viable, then a hysterectomy may be done to save the life of the mother.  Provision should be made for an emergency baptism of the fetus.  Such a mother is not intent upon an abortion and would prefer for the child to be born alive and healthy.  
A specific case, however,needs a close examination of its many details to reach a final, morally-correct decision.  It requires a competent moral theologian to make a practical decision based on all Catholic principles.
Hopefully these thoughts help.  If you have further questions, feel free to write again.
Best wishes, Chris, for a blessed Christmas.