By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman
MEXICO, April 21, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Mexican state of Nayarit passed a pro-life amendment to its constitution last Friday, in an overwhelming multi-partisan vote.
The amendment, which passed the state’s legislature 27-3 with zero abstentions, was supported by a broad spectrum of legislators ranging from the conservative National Action Party (PAN) to the liberal Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), to the socialist Labor Party (PT). It was introduced by PRI representative Roberto Mejia Perez.
The “yes” vote even included a member of the socialist Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), whose national and state leadership often supports the goal of legalizing abortion.
“I’m in favor of life, I will never be in favor of disturbing the development of one who is gestating. The Mexican government and the Secretary of Health work every day to protect healthy pregnancies and a safe birth,” said PRD representative Roberto Contreras.
The text of the amendment changed article 7 of the constitution to state that the government “recognizes, guarantees, and protects the right to life of every human being from the moment of natural or artificial fertilization.”
Although the amendment may not result in criminal penalties on abortions that currently are exempted as “exceptional,” such as rape cases and fetal deformity, it is expected to prevent pro-abortion legislators from passing an abortion-on-demand law at the state level in the future.
Following a decision by Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice last year ruling that Mexico City’s abortion-on-demand law is constitutional, states have begun to debate and pass amendments to their constitutions to prevent such changes to their own criminal codes. Over 20,000 unborn children have died at the hands of abortionists in Mexico City since its abortion law was approved in 2007.
Abortion is illegal throughout Mexico’s 31 states, but is not penalized in certain cases, most commonly in cases of rape and fetal deformity, as well as danger to the life of the mother.
Related LifeSiteNews coverage:
Two More Mexican States Pass Pro-Life Amendments by Overwhelming Majorities
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09041415.html
Mexican State of Puebla Approves Pro-Life Amendment to Constitution
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09031601.html
Mexican Supreme Court Issues Decision Protecting Ability of States to Restrict Abortion
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09030512.html
Abortion Legalization Initiatives Die in Mexico’s State Legislatures
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09030213.html
Mexican State of Colima Amends Constitution to Protect Right to Life from Conception, 19-0
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/feb/09021811.html
Pro-Abortion Forces Sue to Overturn State Pro-Life Amendment in Mexican Supreme Court
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jan/09013008.html
Mexican State of Sonora Passes Pro-Life Constitutional Amendment
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/oct/08102213.html