Double Effect

Catholic moral teaching allows for the death of the embryo/fetus in the attempt to save the life of the mother (eg. in the case of ectopic pregnancy where the embryo grows inside the Fallopian tube instead of implanting on the uterine wall-- a situation that results in hemorrhaging and the mother's death if not treated). This situation is covered by the Principle of Double Effect (a la Aquinas) which maintains that a good intention towards a good outcome can be permitted even if a bad outcome happens as a consequence (the precise definition can be found here).

The Catholic Encyclopedia of 1907 states:

If medical treatment or surgical operation, necessary to save a mother’s life, is applied to her organism (though the child’s death would, or at least might, follow as a regretted but unavoidable consequence), it should not be maintained that the fetal life is thereby directly attacked.

So that's something to keep in mind.

As far as the legal restrictions-- I think attempts to save the mother whose life is endangered by the pregnancy should be permitted and taught (though technically, this would not be abortion as the Church defines it, i.e. Intentional Killing). State funding for abortion or abortifacients of any sort outside of this scenario I oppose.

But a society where this is possible is one which recognizes the utterly special dignity of human persons, perceives that life is worth living, and experiences the companionship of the divine that eradicates fear and provides the strength to choose the more difficult path. The only time in history such a society existed was Christian Europe. It was the presence of the Church (Christian people) that lead Roman society to abandon its own abortion practices.