A surprising number of Catholics in the United States believe abortion should be legal.
The Catholic Church's teaching on the issue of abortion is clear. The catechism of the Catholic Church states:
Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law.
Participation in abortion, then, is a grave offense in the Catholic Church worthy of excommunication.
