Caracas, Venezuela, Sep 28, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The Bishops Conference of Venezuela strongly objected this week to a change in the country’s Penal Code that would legalize abortion and called on Congress to vote against the measure.
The bill before Congress invokes the “right of a woman to the free unfolding of her personality and to not have children when she doesn’t desire to do so,” and it states that abortion should be legal and establishes a time frame for the implementation of the law.
“The Catholic Church deplores and absolutely rejects the proposal to decriminalize abortion through the reform of the Venezuelan Penal Code,” a move sanctioned by the Supreme Court on September 22, the bishops said.
In their message, the bishops issued “a call to conscience to Catholic and non-Catholic lawmakers to vote against (the proposal),” as Congress will make the decision on the proposed reforms.