It is precisely as a Catholic Priest that I know the Church teaches me to respect the judgement  and conscience of other people.  And also that I need to continue to think and to contribute what I can to the positions the Church takes.

Personally, I think teaching leading to 'absolutes' such as you express must have something wrong with it. 

My advise is that we need to consider abortion in relationship to  miscarriages. And to the life of the mother and the family. 

Frankly - and just for me, personally - I don't quite buy into all that 'intrinsic evil' language. That seems to be what makes people go to extremes.

 I've learned enough about human foetal development to know that some very weird things can happen between conception and birth. Normally, sometimes the foetus would die and be expelled in a miscarriage. Today it might be possible to prolong a process that should not be prolonged.

The life and health of the mother and the effect on the family ought paramount.