Even the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in its "Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services," explicitly allows Catholic hospitals, as a matter of compassion, to give rape victims contraception.

"Our initial decision regarding Dr. Couture's request for health insurance was based upon Saint Mary's commitment to following the Ethical and Religious Directives established by the Catholic Church," he wrote.

He was for some years in the post-Vatican II period a consultant in moral theology for the Committee on Doctrine and Pastoral Practice of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in their 3rd edition of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Facilities.

In a public statement, Bishop Olmsted called the procedure a direct abortion, which is in direct violation of The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.

"They carefully evaluated the patient's situation and correctly applied the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services to it, saving the only life that was possible to save."

The Catholic position on family planning is explained further in Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.

Although the National Conference of Catholic Bishops last year revised its guidelines - the "Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services" - there is still considerable debate about precisely what Catholic doctrine does and does not allow.

The proportionality of harm versus benefit of medical procedures, as defined by Directives 29 and 33 of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (National Conference of Catholic Bishops), have also been interpreted to support and reject the practice of circumcision.

The hospital's spokesperson explained that while the hospital follows the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, these directives do not answer all questions.

McBride's supporters have argued that the abortion was licit under the terms of Directive 47 of the "Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services", issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.