Cardinal reminds Chileans that defending life is Church’s unchanging right

Santiago, Chile, Mar 20, 2009 / 19:08 pm

The prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, Cardinal Jorge Medina Estevez, reminded Chileans this week that “defending life is an unchanging right” for the Church.  His comments came after media reports that some bishops might change their positions on “therapeutic” abortion. 

Speaking on Radio Agricultura, Cardinal Medina explained that the Church cannot change her position against abortion because it is a question of the death of an innocent person.

“Any form of abortion is unacceptable. The Church has never changed her position. Abortion is the death of an innocent person. We bishops are going to defend the position the Church has taken during 20 centuries,” he said.

Likewise, he explained that a politician who declares himself Catholic cannot vote in favor of abortion. He was referring to the recent statements by ex-president, Senator Eduardo Frei, who spoke out in favor of debating the legalization of “therapeutic” abortion.

“If the debate we are talking about means explaining the reason for the Church’s position, then I see no problem. But if they want to do it in order to pass a law, a Catholic president cannot do that.  I hope that every Catholic candidate conducts himself in this way,” the cardinal said.

“Nobody is preventing debate. But don’t expect for there to be a change in position after the debate because it would be like denying our own identity. Defending life is an unchanging right,” he added.