I wonder if there is at the same time an outreach to those who have had abortions and are sorry. I think it is important that people understand that there is a way back to the church for the sincerely repentant.
Forgiveness of sin—with proper penance—is a vital part of doctrine.
But excommunication means nothing to non-catholics, that is all in the other Christian communities of Protestants, Orthodox, Copts, Mandaens, Mormons, and many others. Excommunicating publicly affects almost no one, merely for publicity, since those excommunicated don’t care and are already separated from true communion by their thoughts and deeds.
Church clerks will be very busy trying to keep up their rosters...
Rachel's Vineyards /www.rachelsvineyard.org/ (Healing after abortion)
and Silent No More Awareness http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/ (Women and Men speaking out because they regret their abortions)
Local Dioceses/Archdioceses also have local program to help with healing from abortion.
Some of this healing is spiritual. Some of the healing is emotional. And sometimes the healing needs to be physical as well (which girls/women are physically injured by their abortions.
There was the case of an abortionist in Indiana that would put a questionaire to girls/women. If he found out that this was an underage girl who was afraid of the parents finding out, he would sexually assault them.
This abortionist did the same thing with married women who cheated on their husbands -- he would sexualy assault them as well.
So there can be some real basket cases out there because of the abuse found in the abortion industry.
Most abortionists are doctors who cannot get jobs in another part of the medical profession. They are forced into being abortionists because of their poor performance.
Abortion organizations try to protect these medical professionals -- and Planned Parenthood as well as NARAL have lots of money to spend protecting the abortionists since there are so few of them.