Nun excommunicated for allowing abortion to save the life of a mother

[dekeguy]

In this case I think the Bishop has erred and probably needs to be referred to the Holy Office of the Inquisition, er, I mean the Secretariat for the Propagation of the Faith.
Abortion per se is never acceptable, but a necessary medical procedure to save life is acceptable so long as the intention is not to abort but to perform a life saving procedure that has an incidental, unwanted, but inevitable side effect. The key here is the intention. Based on what is known in this discussion thread the intention surely was to save life via a procedure which was intended to save life.
This is not a new concept. This has been taught at Catholic Universities since the question was first raised, long before I was born.

The concept of excommunication is also not too hard to grasp. Traditionally the Church defines it as formal recognition of being seperated from the sacramental life of the Church. It exists in two degrees, only one of which is normally used:

Excommunicantii Tolerati which means one is cut off from the Sacraments and is considered to be in a state of mortal sin.

and

Excommunicantii Vitandi which means one is cut off from any interaction with the faithful. In effect no one can speak to, have business with, or have any dealings with this person. Not unlike being 'Silenced' at West Point.
This extreme sanction has not been imposed in modern times. Current Catholic thinking sees this as counterproductive and un-Christian in its effect.

I sometimes wonder where we get our bishops. This one seems to have missed the point that the message of Christ was all about reconciliation and redemption - not calling down hellfire and brimstone on someone who was faced with a terrible choice and followed the guidance as she understood it.
I believe he should have discussed the matter with her, determined the intention and established the medical necessity, and then confirmed her action or admonished her if he was convinced that she had made a wrong call. I hope this matter is reviewed by the Papal Nuncio to the US and the excommunication is lifted by the Secretariat for the Religeous of the Vatican Curia.