Catholic Church sets in motion excommunication of priest who helped girl abort

The archbishop of Barcelona has initiated a process of excommunication against Manel Pousa, a priest known for his work in the Catalan capital's less fortunate areas, for helping a 14-year-old girl to abort a pregnancy. Pousa, also known as Pare Manel, justified his actions in a recent eponymous biography in which he says the girl could otherwise have bled to death after a clandestine abortion.

Through the author of his life story, Francesc Buxeda, Pousa said he will not make any comment until the process has been concluded.

In a communiqué, the archbishop, Lluís Martínez Sistach, explained that he has begun due diligence in the matter to conform with the Canon Law. The process was set in motion on Monday when the archbishop met with senior clergy, an encounter described as "cordial" by Buxeda. In his book, Buxeda explains that Pousa struggled with his conscience when the abortion was carried out.

The decision was made to intervene to save the girl, with whom Pousa had a "special friendship" but not one of a sexual nature, to save her life. According to the book, Pousa had in mind another unassisted abortion in which a young girl had bled to death. He decided to "commit a lesser evil to avoid a greater one."