Just picked up on this thread so forgive me if I have missed some points but a take on what Tam posted.
A good number of years ago my mothers sister (Auntie) who was, and still is a really staunch Catholic, was pregnant with twins and was informed by Doctors that she would be unable to go full term with the pregnancy and it was virtually guaranteed that she would also die. She actually had so much faith in the churches teachings that my uncle had to contact the highest Catholic authorities in Canada to verify that she would not be condemned to whatever is the opposite of a Catholic Heaven if she terminated. Then a Bishop or some other high one came to the hospital and discussed it with her and give her reassurance. The pregnancy was terminated and my Aunty is now a sprightly 89 years old, has four loving children (who were born before the pregnancy that caused the near fatal problem) who grew up with a loving mother, and has handfuls of grandchildren who treat her as a goddess. So while I don't believe in abortion as some form of contraception, there are many cases where medical or mental issues must be taken as an over riding factor in deciding what is to happen.