Politics
Wednesday December 19, 2007
See today's LifeSiteNews stories
Argentine Governor Vetoes Abortion-on-Demand Bill after Catholic Bishop Leads Protest Campaign
Veto a major reversal for pro-abortion forces in the province, who spent years agitating for it
By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman
SANTA ROSA, Argentine, December 19, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Following a strong opposition campaign by the bishop of Santa Rosa, the newly installed governor of the province of La Pampa has vetoed legislation that would have legalized abortion in practically any circumstance up to the ninth month of gestation.
Newly-elected Governor Oscar Jorge, who was installed December 10th, issued the veto within a week. In the process he strongly denounced the measure's "interpretations and applications that openly collide with the restrictive spirit" of Argentina's penal legislation regarding abortion.
The veto of the bill is a major reversal for pro-abortion forces in the province, who spent years agitating for it, and whose victory seemed certain before the election of Jorge, who is seen as more pro-life than his predecessor, Carlos Verna. Verna openly favored the law. The Peronist Party to which the governor belongs is split on the issue.
Jorge won election to his seat with 56% of the vote, twenty points higher than his opponent, and 17% more than the very popular Cristina Fernandez, who was recently elected president of Argentina.
The unexpected victory followed weeks of campaigning by the nation's Catholics, led by Bishop Rinaldo Fidel Bredice of Santa Rosa, the capital of La Pampa. Bishop Fidel led a protest march in early December and received accolades from Argentine pro-lifers for his spirited fight against the legislation.
"Every human being has the right to life," Fidel remarked before the march. "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."
Numerous local, national, and even foreign organizations and individuals joined with the bishop to denounce the legislation, including The Catholic Medical Consortium, the Association of Catholic Attorneys, Human Life International, Families of the World United for Peace (FAMPAZ), the Life and Family Forum. and the Center for Research into Problems of the Family.
Argentina's laws prohibit all abortions, and the nation's constitution states that "each person has the right to respect for his life from the moment of conception". However, under the Argentine penal code, some abortions are decriminalized, carrying no penalty. These include cases of rape, pregnancy of a mentally ill or retarded woman, or when the health of the mother is at stake.
Following a typical strategy pursued by pro-abortion forces in Latin America, the La Pampa legislators sought to create a "protocol for therapeutic abortion" based on an extremely loose interpretation of these exceptions, which would have widened the "health" exception to include virtually any condition, including social inconveniences and emotional concerns. Critics noted that this interpretation was in clear contradiction to the law's historical interpretation.
See previous LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Bishop Leads Protest March Against Legalization of Abortion in Argentina
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/dec/07120501.html
Catholic Attorneys Ask for Veto of Abortion Law in Argentina
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/dec/07121111.html ;
Back to TopSHARE THIS STORY: E-mail Print Newsvine Digg Reddit Del.icio.us Facebook
Latest Headlines
- McCain Stresses Role as Maverick, War Vet, Makes Bipartisan Appeal in Acceptance Speech
- Foiled Again - Attempt to Paint Palin as Slashing Funds to Teen Moms Proven False
- EU Seeks Legal Means to Shut Up Eurosceptic Bloggers
- Comments on September 5, 2008 News
- Sarah Palin News Highlights 2
- Speaker Pelosi "in Opposition" to Church Teaching on Abortion: San Francisco Archbishop
- CRTC Nixes Christian Radio Proposals, Supports Porn TV
- BC Court Ruling Means only Pro-Abortion Information is Allowed Inside Bubble Zones
- One Month Till 16th Annual Catholic Week of Prayer and Fasting for Life - October 5-13, 2008
- "Anti-Catholic" Union Advocating Homosexual Agenda May Face Human Rights Commission
- Brazilian Health Minister Gives False Testimony in Eugenic Abortion Case
- U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Launches New Stem Cell Research and Anti-Abortion Ads
- N. Ireland Pro-life Group launches 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting to Stop Abortion Threat
- Ottawa Gears Up for 40 Days for Life Rally
Most Read this Week
- USCCB Delivers One Last Blow to "Catholic" Pelosi on Abortion Remarks
- Lawsuit: Young Pro-lifers Jailed, Shackled, Strip Searched for Peacefully Sharing Message
- Exclusive: Sources Reveal Internal Uproar over Vatican Conference Promoting Organ Donation
- British Government Chooses Hitler-Loving Abortion Movement Pioneer for Stamps
- Prominent Psychiatrist: "No Particular Need for Sex-Education"
- Sarah Palin Delivers Gutsy Acceptance Speech
- Obama Launches Ad Campaign Attacking McCain for Pro-Life Policy
- Potential Vice-President of the United States of America - Who is Sarah Palin?
- Scotland Bishops Oppose "Sexual Orientation Discrimination" Bill
- Foiled Again - Attempt to Paint Palin as Slashing Funds to Teen Moms Proven False
MORE NEWS: 
LifeSiteNews.com Home Page Last 10 Days Archives Special Reports
Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.