Politics
Thursday August 28, 2008
See today's LifeSiteNews stories
Brazilian Supreme Court Hears Testimony on Eugenic Abortions
Mother of anencephalic baby who lived 18 months testifies that her daughter was "marvelous"
By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman
SAO PAULO, August 28, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Supreme Court of Brazil continued to hear testimony today from various organizations regarding eugenic abortions for anencephalic babies.
Following a previous, narrow decision to allow embryonic stem cell research, the issue was revived by a pro-abortion justice in the hope that the court was now "ready" to decide in favor of terminating the lives of unborn children at later stages of development.
Anencephalic babies are born with part or all of their upper brain missing. Although they normally die within days of birth, some have lived for years, and their parents report that they exhibit signs of awareness, a conclusion that is supported by some doctors.
The first round of hearings on Monday included comments from religious groups and medical experts.
Father Luiz Bento, representing the Catholic Church, testified that aborting anencephalic babies is "a racist and discriminatory act" as well as being a form of "pre-natal euthanasia."
Also in attendance was Cacilda Galante Ferreira, the mother of Marcela Ferreira, an anencephalic baby who died earlier this month after a year and a half of life (see LifeSiteNews coverage at http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jun/08060502.html).
"My relationship with her was marvelous, she was marvelous," said Ferreira. "She would breathe, react, and smile. I would caress her and she recognized it. She would sense my presence and my absence."
"It never crossed my mind to interrupt the pregnancy," she added. "It wasn't difficult to take care of her, it was a true joy. God gave me a more than special child. I never suffered for even a minute."
Rudolfo Nunes, a professor of Medical Science in the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, testified that the very term "anencephalic" is misleading, because such babies always have some brain matter.
"Anencephaly is not the equivalent of brain death," he said. "A child with anencephaly, when he breathes, is not in a state of brain death. Despite the high mortality rate, some children can survive for months or even years."
"No in-depth studies exist on the part of the brain that is not compromised by anencephaly. Many things exist that are unexplained. For that reason, is it necessary to be prudent."
However, the court also received testimony from a pro-government sect known as the Universal Church of the Reign of God, which has a close association with the socialist Worker's Party of President Luiz Lula da Silva, and which has a history of supporting abortion. The leader of the group, bishop Edir Macedo, when queried about his religion's view on abortion, asked, "Who is interested in a multitude of children without parents, without love and without anyone?"
"Catholics for the Right to Decide", an organization long-denounced by the Catholic Church for misleading the public about Catholic doctrine on abortion and other human life issues, also was invited to testify.
Today's hearings include medical experts, scientists, and government officials. The final hearing will be held September 4th.
Back to TopSHARE THIS STORY: E-mail Print Newsvine Digg Reddit Del.icio.us Facebook
Latest Headlines
- President Bush and Catholic Leaders Give Tribute to the Late Fr. Richard John Neuhaus
- Abortionists as Euphemists – the Curious Case of the Shifting Language
- Largest-Ever Pro-Life Mobilization Hits Toronto and Other Canadian Cities this Lent - Prayer, Fasting and 24-Hour Vigils Outside Abortuaries
- Vatican Nuncio to the Netherlands Called to Defend Church Teaching on Sexuality by Dutch Foreign Minister
- Swiss Suicide “Clinic” Probed for Profiteering
- Chicago's Abortion Defender Gov. Blagojevich Impeached
- 'Terri's Day' to be Observed in Remembrance of Terri Schiavo
- Palin Weighs in on Media Slander against Her Family
- Plot to Infiltrate and Taint Social Conservative "Team Sarah" Network Exposed
- Ohio Governor Signs Protecting Pregnant Women From Coercion & Violence Bill
- Excerpts from writings and Statements of Fr. Richard Neuhaus - A Priest Not Afraid to Proclaim the Truth
Most Read this Week
- Vatican Newspaper Publishes Article Detailing Birth Control Pill as Cause of Abortion and Cancer
- Obama Selects Yet another Pro-Abortion "Catholic" for Leading Office
- NBC Boots Top Conservative Pundit Ann Coulter from Today Show, Quickly Rebooks Following Uproar
- Abortion Group Ipas Defends Abortion Targeting Unborn Girls
- Medical Expert Says that Contraceptive Pill is Causing Global Rise in Male Infertility
- Fr. Neuhaus Passed Away This Morning
- Kissinger on Obama: "The Reception of Him is So Extraordinary Around The World ... a New World Order Can Be Created"
- Mother Refuses All Further "Parental" Visits with Daughter by Former Lesbian Partner as Trial Looms
- Outspokenly Orthodox, Pro-life Archbishop Takes Over in Vancouver Diocese
- New Jersey Rules against Christian Group that Declined to Host Lesbian Civil Union Ceremony
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.