By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman
BUENOS AIRES, March 18, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The administration of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Argentina’s newly-elected president, has sent a letter to representatives of the national congress urging them to legalize abortion and homosexual “marriage”.
The letter was sent by the president of the administration’s “National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Racism” (INADI), María José Lubertino, to members of the nation’s Chamber of Deputies.
“Regarding discrimination for gender/sex, in the opinion of INADI, it would be very important for you to consider the following topics and bills in the parliamentary agenda of the Honorable Chamber of Deputies for the current year,” wrote Lubertino, according to the Argentine pro-life organization NOTIVIDA.
Lubertino then listed thirteen items, among which were “legalization and broadening of the cases of voluntary interruption of pregnancy”, “regulation of non-punishable abortions”, “marriage between people of the same sex,” and the “law of gender identity.”
Although Fernandez de Kirchner characterized herself as pro-life only days before her election last year, she spoke in ambiguous terms that cast doubt on her claims. She has, however, long stated her support for homosexual political causes.
In the months following her election, Fernández de Kirchner’s administration and Peronist party showed signs of adhering to a pro-life policy with regard to surgical abortions, canceling pro-abortion legislation and dismissing pro-abortion rhetoric that treats illegal abortions as a “public health issue” rather than a crime.
However, the recent actions of INADI’s president indicate that such moves may have only reflected a temporary policy designed to heal relations with the Catholic Church in the wake of the elections.
The administration of Fernández de Kirchner’s husband, former president Nestor Kirchner, was strongly pro-abortion. His health minister, Gines Gonzalez Garcia, was an open advocate of the abortifacient “morning after pill”; he also provided free transportation for an abortion for a mentally retarded child when local doctors refused to do the procedure on ethical grounds (see LifeSiteNews coverage at https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/oct/07100102.html).
NOTIVIDA also reports that on March 12 the Argentine Chamber of Deputies voted unanimously for a bill that commits itself to implementing the “Beijing Declaration”. Issued in 1995, the document uses language that is interpreted by abortion advocates as implying a right to an abortion.
Related Links:
NOTIVIDA’s Reports on Human Life Related Legislation (in Spanish)
https://www.notivida.com.ar/indice_boletines2008.html
See Previous LifeSiteNews Coverage:
New Argentine Health Minister Gives Indications of Pro-Life Position
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jan/08011003.html
President-Elect of Argentina Cancels Pro-Abortion Legislation
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/dec/07120706.html
President-Elect of Argentina Defends Pro-Abortion Position
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/oct/07103001.html