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This is a stupid question, but not being a Catholic I really don't know that much about the Church's doctrines & definition of sins.

If the sin is abortion, the taking of a life - is the only persons sinning those that either have or perform an abortion. In other words, is the sin limited to those directly involved in the act of abortion sinners. How does the sin extend to someone that has neither had or performed an abortion guilty of the sin?
Does this same reasoning apply to all other sins equally, such as contraception (that is also a sin is it not?).
I'm sorry if I seem confused - but, I have no real knowledge, like many here do, of how these rules are applied to certain individuals. I don't think a long answer is required - just the basic underpinnings of the concepts should do. I don't plan on converting, just trying to get a handle on something that others are so into.

First of all, we are dealing with a Mortal Sin regarding abortion. This is a "you-go-straight-to-Hell" class sin, if the sinner does NOT repent and ask forgiveness prior to their death. Not your garden-variety talk-back-to-Dad sin.

The Catholic Church's teaching on the matter is clear: those who procure an abortion, and those who perform such, are in a state of Mortal Sin (given the other common-sense conditions: they know it's bad, they give full consent.)

Further, the Church teaches that there are some people who are "co-operators" in this sin--and those people would include legislators (eg) who vote to "legalize" it, or to maintain its "legal" status, or to EXPAND "legalization,", etc., etc. In common (but not technically-accurate) parlance, they are "enablers."

If Catholic, those "enablers" are also potentially sinners. At that point, the Canon Law is clear: one must persist in such "enabling," be aware that the action (abortion) is gravely sinful, and not heed warnings from Church authority.

ROUGHLY, this is where Kerry stands. He's a flagrant, frequent, obstinate "enabler" despite his knowledge to the contrary and recent warnings from responsible and authoritative Catholics (such as Cd. Arinze of the Vatican.)

There are better 'splainers out there. Pinging one...