Wednesday July 5, 2006
Five Convicted of Abortion Crimes in Portugal
By Gudrun Schultz
LISBON, Portugal, July 5, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A doctor, a nurse
and three women were convicted yesterday of illegal abortion activity,
after the state appealed a 2004 acquittal of charges against the five.
The women were given suspended prison sentences of six months each,
reported Lusa News Agency. The nurse was given a 16-month prison
sentence, and the doctor will spend three years and eight months in
jail. The defendants have 15 days to appeal the sentencing to the
Supreme Court.
Abortion is illegal in Catholic Portugal, except for cases of rape or
if the mother’s health is seriously endangered. All abortions are
illegal after 12 weeks gestation, regardless of the circumstances.
The Socialist government now in power has announced it will introduce a
law in September permitting abortion in the first trimester of
pregnancy. The government had promised to re-open the abortion debate
with a 2006 referendum on the issue, but now has said the decision will
be left to Parliament.
A 1998 referendum on the issue resulted in a victory for abortion
opponents, with a narrow margin of 51% to 49%; but voter turn out was
too small for the results to be considered binding.
The Socialists have been pushing for open access to abortion for the
past decade, beginning with a 1997 bill to permit unrestricted
abortion, which was defeated by just one vote in Parliament.
Concerted opposition by the country’s strong pro-life forces has so far
prevented any change to the abortion laws.
A petition containing the signatures of 190,000 people opposed to
abortion was presented to Parliament in March of 2004, effectively
shutting down further debate on the issue at that time. Support for the
protection of the unborn appears to be weakening, however—a 2005 poll
conducted by Marktest suggested 54 percent of the population,
especially among the younger generation, would support legal abortion.
See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Ruling Socialists in Portugal Will Introduce Bill to Legalize Abortion in September
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jun/06063005.html
Abortion Referendum in Portugal Approved by Socialist-Led Government
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/apr/05042102.html
Abortion-Pushing Socialists Elected in Portugal
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/feb/05022105.html
Abortion Referendum in Portugal Delayed by Prime Minister until 2006
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/may/05050403.html
Portugal Acquits Two Women Accused of Procuring Illegal Abortion
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/jul/05071309.html
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