The Uruguayan legislature passed a bill that includes legalizing some forms of abortion.The new Reproductive Health Law would make Uruguay the second South American country to permit first trimester abortions without restrictions. The approved measure was a modified form of a similar bill defeated one year ago.
Despite polls showing 57% of Uruguayans backing the bill, Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez is expected to veto the proposal. The bill has also met with strong opposition of the country’s Roman Catholic Church which may have gone too far:
Uruguayan bishops are recalling that those who vote in favor of abortion exclude themselves from communion with the Church.According to government figures, approximately 33,000 illegal abortions are carried out in Uruguay yearly, a number that is expected to decrease if the law goes into effect.
The prelates appealed to canon law in recalling the Catholic position on abortion during their Nov. 5-12 plenary assembly.
In a communiqué Friday, the bishops responded to a bill regarding "reproductive and sexual health" currently under consideration…
The bishops go on to say that no "honest law can justify the elimination of a defenseless being who has the right to life and to be born."
Sources (English)- The Latin Americanist, AP, CNN, Zenit, Catholic News Agency, Prensa Latina
Sources (Spanish)- Milenio
Image- CNN (“An anti-abortion protester displays an Uruguayan flag last week in front of Uruguay's Congress in Montevideo.”)
"But the bill's backers said the vote was a "milestone" for women's rights in Uruguay.
ReplyDelete"Whether the president vetoes it or not, it's important that Congress has established this right," Margarita Percovich, a senator from the governing party, told Reuters.
Percovich ... hm, I wonder what this lady's background could be ... could it be ....
JEWISH?
Anon -
ReplyDeleteWhat's your point?
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