“Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body?” Melania Trump added. “A woman’s fundamental right of individual liberty, to her own life, grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes.”
According to a 2020 Pew Research Center survey:
A 2022 Gallup poll provides further nuance:
| Action | Description | Severity | Likelihood | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Admonition | The Pope or a designated bishop privately urges the individual to reconsider their stance and align with Church teaching. | Low | High | The Church prefers discreet correction to avoid scandal and encourage repentance (Canon 1341). This is common for public figures to maintain dialogue. |
| Public Statement or Clarification | The Pope issues a general statement reaffirming Church teaching on abortion without naming the individual, indirectly addressing their stance. | Low | High | Popes often clarify doctrine publicly (e.g., Pope Francis’ 2018 comments on abortion as a grave sin) to guide the faithful without targeting individuals. |
| Denial of Communion | A bishop or priest, under papal guidance, denies the individual Holy Communion due to “obstinate persistence in manifest grave sin” (Canon 915). | Moderate | Moderate | Applied to public figures like politicians (e.g., Nancy Pelosi in some dioceses), but inconsistent across bishops and rarely directed by the Pope himself. |
| Formal Canonical Warning | A formal admonition under canon law, warning the individual to retract their position or face further consequences. | Moderate | Low | Canon 1347 allows warnings before penalties, but this is rare for laypeople and more common for clergy or theologians. |
| Interdict | The individual is barred from participating in certain sacraments (e.g., Eucharist, Confession) until they repent (Canon 1332). | High | Very Low | Interdict is a severe penalty, rarely applied to laypeople, and typically reserved for extreme cases of public dissent or scandal. |
| Excommunication (Latae Sententiae) | Automatic excommunication for procuring or directly assisting in an abortion (Canon 1398), though advocacy alone may not trigger it unless deemed “heresy” or “schism” (Canon 1364). | Very High | Extremely Low | Advocacy for abortion doesn’t automatically incur excommunication, and the Pope is unlikely to apply it to a layperson absent extreme public defiance. |
| Excommunication (Ferendae Sententiae) | Formal excommunication declared by the Pope or a bishop for persistent, public rejection of Church teaching (Canon 1364). | Extreme | Nearly Unprecedented | Extremely rare for laypeople; historically reserved for severe cases like schism or heresy (e.g., excommunication of Martin Luther). |
They shouldn't, EXCEPT...the baby is NOT "her own body"...it has it's own unique DNA.