In between he produced the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" essentially a how-to guide to being a Catholic.

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The issue is addressed, among other places, in points 410-414 of the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

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The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that person who procures an abortion incurs automatic excommunication, a penalty that often only a bishop can lift.

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