Santiago, Chile, Aug 4, 2017 / 15:13 pm
Late Wednesday, Chilean lawmakers approved legislation that would allow for abortions under certain circumstances, ending the country's longstanding wholesale ban on the practice.
The new law would permit abortion in the cases of rape, endangerment of a mother's life, or in cases when the fetus has a life-threatening birth defect. It would allow for objecting doctors to refuse to perform abortions, except in cases when the mother's life is in danger and there are no other available physicians.
The legislation has drawn harsh criticism after a year's-long heated debate from many in the majority-Catholic country, including many of the country's bishops who have expressed their dismay at the lifting of the ban.
Bishop Fernando Chomali of Concepción told CNA he "deeply regretted" that the law had thus far been approved, noting that it wouldn't help women in need and that it goes against the country's constitution.