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Bishop Leads Protest March Against Legalization of Abortion in Argentina

Bill will legalize virtually all abortions in province

By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman

LA PAMPA, ARGENTINA, December 4, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The bishop of Santa Rosa in Argentina, Monsignor Rinaldo Fidel Bredice, was scheduled to lead an anti-abortion march today at 6 pm to the seat of the provincial government of La Pampa in protest against an attempt to legalize abortion in the province.

The proposed law, which was passed by the provincial legislature on Thursday of last week, will require all hospitals to provide abortion services in any case in which the mother's "integral health" is in danger.  "Integral health" is defined as physical, psychological, or social "health", thus legalizing practically all abortions in the province.

Bishop Fidel has stated his "total repudiation" of the bill, "a legal norm that is clearly unconstitutional," referring to the Argentine Constitution's protection of the right to life.

"Every human being has the right to life," he continued. "Before all else the authorities should arrange for its defense, which is the first of human rights.  To approve abortion is an inhuman crime against innocents."

"I ask, instead of facilitating the death of the child in the womb of the mother, why don't they work to create subsidies for her and for her child until he reaches the age of 18?  Why don't they facilitate the process for the many Argentines who want to adopt children?"

The strategy of creating a law to regulate or even require the use of abortion where the criminal code does not supply penalties (the "protocol" strategy) has been attempted in other countries, especially Peru, without success (see related LifeSite coverage at http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jul/07071605.html).

Provincial Governor Carlos Verna may still veto the law, but it is believed that he will not do so. However, petition signatures urging a veto of the bill are being gathered by the organization Notivida (http://www.notivida.com.ar/), which contends that it violates national law.

Contact Information:

Embassy of Argentina in the USA
1600 New Hampshire Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20009-2512
Phone (202) 238-6401
Fax (202) 332-3171

Embassy of Argentina in Canada
81 Metcalfe Street, Suite 700
Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6K7
Phone(613) 236-2351
Fax (613) 235-2659
Email:

Argentine Embassies in Other Countries
http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/Argentina/Argentina1.html

See Previous LifeSiteNews.com Coverage:

Constitutional Struggle in Argentina Ends in Death for Unborn Child
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/oct/07100102.html

Pro-Life Ruling Overturned -- Grandparent Fights for Life of Mentally Disabled Daughter's Unborn Child
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/sep/07091701.html

Pro-Abortion Groups Seek Proceedings Against Pro-Life Judge in Argentina
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/sep/07090601.html

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