Bishops of Brazil seek voice in debate over legalization of abortion
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, Aug 2, 2005 / 12:00 am (CNA).- The National Conference of Bishops of Brazil has issued a statement asking to be included in the debate over the revision of the country’s abortion laws and reaffirming that the Conference “will continue defending the inalienable right to life of the unborn.” The statement, which was signed by Conference president Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo of Salvador, and Auxiliary Bishop Odilio Scherer of Sao Paulo, secretary general of the Conference, states that the de-criminalization of abortion would lead to “serious problems regarding life and human dignity.”

The bishops note that the rights of women should be respected, defended and promoted, but that “the rights of the unborn child” must be defended and supported with the same conviction.  “We know from qualified scientific testimony that from the moment of conception, the human being possesses his own genetic traits and immune system.  We’re dealing here with another human being, such that mother and embryo constitute distinct human beings.”

In their statement, the bishops point to the country’s Constitution and Civil Code, both of which establish legal protection for the unborn.  While they recognize that the country is dealing with a growing health problem with respect to unwanted pregnancies and clandestine abortions, the bishops emphasize that “nonetheless, one evil cannot be healed with a worse evil.”

“While the Catholic Church recognizes and respects the laicity of the State,” the statement continues, “she wishes to participate in the discussions and decisions.”  The National Conference of Bishops of Brazil had been excluded from a commission studying the issue of abortion because of objections by the National Council for Policies on Women.

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Subscriber comments:
Published by: Lianne B. Lopes
Vitoria, ES Brazil 08/02/2005 09:11 PM EST
I am not Cathlic, my husband is a Baptist minister, but I wish I could read that "evangelicals" and Catholics in Brazil were growing closer as is the case in the US, according to an article on this site. My stomach gelled when I heard on the news that a committee was studying the law to attempt to legalize abortion here in Brazil. With so much corruption in Brazilian government, one of the things I was most proud of was the law against abortion. If Brazilian evangelicals, protestants and Catholics would all get together on this abortion issue, I think we would see very interesting and positive results. I applaud the Brazilian Catholics for their stance, and wish we could see other Christian denominations having that same courage and joining hands in this and many other moral issues facing Brazil's youth.
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Published by: Katherine Clyde
Bronx, NY USA 08/02/2005 03:39 PM EST
I'm wondering where else this issue is appearing. I think Brazil's struggle over abortion has been linked in the minds of the North with the same problem in Africa. It would seem that this is a classic and demands a lot of attention. I hope this doesn't go the way of other issues where people just say, Oh that's too bad for all those poor people in Brazil.
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