text: At the core of the debate is the fact that we live in a pluralistic society, with more than one strong opinion about the morality of certain actions. The official Catholic teaching is that a human person exists from the moment of conception. Many disagree for very solid reasons. Catholics see any abortion as absolutely evil; others see struggle that arises because of rape or danger to the life of the mother. John Courtney Murray, S.J., is the theologian who has explored this most deeply. 
  
  What many Catholics seem to seek is the absolute prohibition of abortion, ie, the triumph of their moral perspective over all others. But even the majority of Catholics disagree because of its impact on our pluralist society. It is a tremendous conundrum.