January 16, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A majority of legislators in Argentina’s National Congress now say that they support the decriminalization of abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy, according to a poll conducted by the government’s Center for Labor Studies and Investigations (CEIL) and reported by Argentina’s Pagina 12.
The poll, which examined what the pollsters said was a representative sample of about one-third of the National Congress’ 329 members, found that 64 percent support the elimination of penalties for abortion during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.
It also found that Argentinean legislators favor other anti-life and anti-family policies, including a majority of 52 percent in favor of legislation permitting euthanasia, and 75 percent affirming “gender identity,” a concept that treats Gender Identity Disorder as if it were normal and natural.
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The responses given by the legislators belie their religious self-identification. Although 60 percent self-identified as “Catholic,” the majority expressed political positions that are incompatible with Catholic teaching. In addition to the strong support in favor of abortion depenalization and “gender identity” legislation, 84 percent favored permitting in-vitro fertilization methods and 54 percent favored allowing cryogenic storage of embryos.
Although a strong majority identified as “Catholic” and 46 percent described themselves as “very religious,” eighty-seven percent were against consulting bishops when selecting education ministers, and 77 percent opposed allowing religious organizations to carry out social policies.
Although the government of Argentina officially “supports” the Catholic Church in its constitution, the country has been moving strongly against the Church’s doctrines on life and family issues.
In 2010, Argentina became the first country in Latin America to create homosexual “marriage,” which was approved by the national legislature and the nation’s president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.