Sao Paulo, Brazil, Apr 1, 2009 / 03:29 am (CNA).- During a pro-life rally on March 29 outside the Cathedral of Sao Paulo in Brazil, Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer announced to the more than 5,000 people gathered that "abortion is a defeat for medicine."

After explaining to his audience that "the health of women who are raped can be recovered through medicine," the cardinal pointed out that "abortion is a radical attack against life. The Church supports everything that is done to save life. Abortion is a defeat for medicine."

The cardinal said the state should create laws that defend life from the moment of conception. "We cannot give the State the right to legally throw away the lives of the defenseless. It is a question of citizenship, not of religion," he continued.

Various pro-life leaders and lawmakers were present at the event, including Marilia de Castro of the National Movement of Citizens for Life. "We are going to defeat the measures that aim to kill our children," she said.

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