Santiago, Chile, Jan 17, 2005 / 22:00 pm
The ex-prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Cardinal Jorge Medina, issued a call from the Vatican this week to Chilean society to protect the life of a 9 year-old girl who became pregnant through rape while not forgetting at the same time the rights of the seven-month old baby she is carrying.
Speaking to the daily, “Ultimas Noticias,” Cardinal Medina rejected the efforts by some local personalities who have attempted to use the girl’s case as a reason to legalize abortion.
The cardinal sent his blessing to the girl and said, “Life must absolutely be respected. The fact that such a young girl has become pregnant and in such terrible circumstances does not take away the right to life of the baby in her womb.”
“To take the life of that baby is a crime,” he went on. “What has happened is truly sad and she must be helped in everyway. Of course this abuse is horrible. It is unqualifiedly an offense against the girl’s dignity, but that does not mean that we should take the life of the only person who has no fault,” he added.