Archbishop explains excommunications in abortion case involving 9 year-old

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Comments: 14

Brasilia, Brazil, Mar 6, 2009 / 05:33 pm (CNA).- Archbishop José Cardoso Sobrinho of Recife, Brazil has rebuffed reports that the Church excommunicated a 9 year-old girl whose twins were aborted. The girl underwent the abortion after a court ordered it, citing the fact that she was pregnant because of rape.

The Brazilian press attacked the Catholic Church today, falsely reporting that the 9-year old girl, raped earlier this year by her step-father and pregnant with twins, had been excommunicated.

The Archbishop of this Northeastern Brazilian region explained that, contrary to the press reports, all those involved in the abortion have incurred in excommunication latae sententiae (automatically) “except for the little girl, who is not morally responsible for this tragic act.”

The girl was required to have the twins aborted on Thursday at a hospital in Recife, Brazil.

The Catholic Church teaches that a person who commits a sin of grave matter must be fully conscious, or in this case, have a mature understanding of the act they are committing. Archbishop Cardoso said that “in order to incur an excommunication, it is required to have a full conscience of the act. In this sense, the Church is benevolent with the minors and the victims of abortion.”

“All those who approved, promoted and performed the abortion, incurred automatic excommunication, according to code 1398 of the Canon Law.”

The case has drawn widespread attention since abortion is illegal, except under specific circumstances, and because Brazil is the world’s most heavily Catholic country.

“The Church usually does not announce or publicly that that is the case, but it was important for me to do it on this occasion,” Cardoso said.

“My hope is that those affected by the excommunication they brought upon themselves may change their hearts and may not wait until the proximity of death to repent,” he concluded.

Comments: 14

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Leachim
London, UK 02/20/2010 05:28 AM EST

Shana: Whose side is the church on? The Church is primarily on the side of a baby who has the right to live so long as God permits it. To kill it is as evil act. The principle is that one must not do evil to achieve good. Sometiomes, this principle is expensive, as all principles are, but never disposable. To try to dispose with it by having a recourse to consequences if it is upheld, is a classical example of consequentionalism which is deplored in Tradition and formally promulgated in Veritatis Splendor.

Published by: Shana
Montana 03/18/2009 12:06 AM EST

When my mother called my attention to this story, I could tell from her voice that the matter was grave and I asked her before she started to relate it if I was going to weep, scream or vomit- She replied "In whatever order seems appropriate".... This is an outrage- The man responsible for all of this anguish, pain and heartbreak-which for the young victim is not at all over and done with- gets to continue as a member in good standing of the Church, while the people who made the, no doubt, wrenching decisions and acted to protect the life and, I hope, future fertility of the young victim have been condemned?
Whose side is the church on?

Published by: Joe G.
Phoenix, AZ USA 03/16/2009 10:41 PM EST

So many misunderstandings in such a short space.

Catholic doctrine doesn't condemn the nine-year old girl to death. Through the principle of double effect, it says you cannot directly kill the innocent. If the nine-year old was in danger, Catholic teaching allows for the treatment of the nine-year old to save her life -- what it does not allow for is the direct and intended execution of the twins.

Regarding the excommunication, those who procured/produced the abortion were not excommunicated via an ecclesial act, but AUTOMATICALLY, via their intended killing of two innocents.

Published by: Jay
Ogden, UT USA 03/13/2009 10:59 PM EST

It sounds like the mother was condemned from the start. If she makes the girl carry the twins to term, she guarantees the girl’s death – in other words, she murders the girl. Conversely, if she makes the girl have an abortion, she gets excommunicated for murdering the twins. Maybe a few more layers of canon law could help us understand what she should have done.

Published by: Rick
Hometown, CA, USA 03/12/2009 12:43 PM EST

Rate: Regular

Canon Law is a Law made by men.

There is no God in the manner men imagine one to exist.

By deny abortion Catholics condone rape.

The Catholic Church is morally bankrupt under ethos of "Do onto others as you would have done onto you."

Published by: Maria
Europe 03/11/2009 03:50 PM EST

How come that the girl's biological father was not excommunicated? The local priest wrote on his blog (Padre Edson on blogspot) that the secular authorities and the priests have talked with both parents; both rejected the abortion and then both changed their minds and approved the abortion. So where is the father on the list of excommunicated people? Or is he exempted because he's a man?

Published by: get rid of the catholic curse.
canada 03/11/2009 01:17 AM EST

This is a disgusting example of how the misogynistic catholic church operates. A nine year old is raped (and yes it is possible for a nine year old to menstruate, though not necessarily a common occurrence) and the church excommunicates the only people who have her best interest at heart, not the monster who raped a six year old, and continued to do so for 3 years. But then again, when did the institution of the church ever care about women or children? Given the long history of sexually abusing children, I'm surprised the pope didn't give this man an honorary priesthood.

Published by: Noreen
Jefferson, NY, USA 03/10/2009 07:50 PM EST

You say the step father doesnt need to be excommunicated because he has damned himself already? Then, if you go by holy law then that should apply to the mother and the doctors, why excommunicate them? The only thing I can think of is to show their actions were wrong, to make an example of them.

If that is so, then by not excommunicating the step father we are just saying that his actions just weren't as bad.

This is why I find myself even further from the vatican than I ever thought I could get. I don't know how I can ever back the vatican on this one.

Published by: Mary Montgomery
Kansas City Mo. USA 03/10/2009 05:05 PM EST

Thought maybe I could sleep tonight---guess I will think again. "mothers needs often selfish" "God's law" 9yrs old--twins-- most grown women have difficulty bringing normal twins to term. Are you men just trying to wreck my faith or does it come naturally? How can I be faithful to a Magesterium that would prefer to see women simply die at their whim.where would you get get your priests from? Aquinas was wrong--the disordered sx is male.

Published by: Doctor Mary
US 03/09/2009 01:10 PM EST

What I find strage about this story...

.... a 9 year old girl cannot get pregnant. Menstruation starts 2 or 3 years later... usually!

Published by: Rod
Texas 03/09/2009 12:56 PM EST

"1398 of the Canon Law" refers to the actual code in the Cannon Law. It is correct.

Mike, no where in this article does it state the church has anything against this young victim. In fact, it specifically states the young victim is not at fault. It is true God's Law takes precedence over the needs of the mother which are often selfish needs. However, this is clearly a special case and the Bishop took extra care to explain it. Not sure where you got confused.

Volin, to suggest the church is "not doing so to the pedophile rapist stepfather" is asinine. Anyone comitting these horrible crimes don't need to be excommunicated. They have already damned themselves. Your comment was, with all due respect, idiotic.

Published by: Volin
US 03/07/2009 12:57 PM EST

Rate: Regular

So in order to "save" the rape victim, who has been viciously raped and abused since the early years of her life, from imminent death of herself (small uterus), the church excommunicates those who sought to prevent her death while not doing so to the pedophile rapist stepfather who has also raped this little girl's "mentally handicapped" 14-year-old sister!!!!!

Does Catholicism have something against humanity? The Church must be put on trail and prosecuted to the fullest extent of law. All the Archbishops who do not repent from this criminal canon must be put in jail for the rest of their lives.

Published by: M. G. Hysell
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 03/06/2009 09:36 PM EST

I think the sixth paragraph should read "1983 Code of Canon Law.

Best to you,
mgh

Published by: Mike
Quinlan/TX/USA 03/06/2009 08:19 PM EST

Mother's life endagered, mother raped, mother only 9 years old. Church law claiming 'God's law' takes precedence over needs of the mother. Didn't Jesus preach against just this posture in the church?

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