Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Montevideo (Agenzia Fides) - Representatives of seven Christian Churches (Anglicans, Apostolic Armenians, Baptists, Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Menonites, and Pentecostals), sent a letter to the President of Uruguay, Tabare Vazquez, expressing their complete support for him “in his decision to veto the so-called ‘Reproductive Health Law,’ that would not only be unconstitutional, but it would also contradict the fundamental ethic principle of defense of life.”
According to the leaders that sign the letter, “the controversy over the legalization of abortion encloses a false contraposition between good of the mother and the good of the unborn child.” They are both goods that “do not exclude one another, but rather are essential to each other.” For this reason, “one cannot protect the life of the mother without protecting that of the child, just as one cannot protect the good of the child and disregard his mother.”
The leaders express their support to the President in presenting his veto, however they also offer “some suggestions for a possible law in the future that could be called, ‘the Law for Protection of Pregnant Women.’” Among the suggestions are, instead of “reducing the penalty for women who have abortions, as they are submitted to many psychological, economic, social, family, and cultural pressures,” on the contrary, “enforce an especially severe penalty for those who directly or indirectly take part in performing an abortion, or in selling abortifacients,” as they observe that the gravity of such a crime “does not only proceed from the completely defenseless situation of the unborn child, but also from the moral and physical harm that is inflicted on the woman, taking advantage of her psychological and social vulnerability in the situation.”
They also ask that support centers for pregnant women be created and given substantial aid, “where teams of service personnel, including professionals and specialists in various areas, work to offer the mother the help she needs in carrying her child to term.” Another proposal they make is “to reform the adoption guidelines and facilitate the adoption of newborn babies,” and lastly, “the promotion of what is known as ‘long-distance adoption,’ with government funding for such a program.” The “long-distant adoption’ program has its advantages, as it “avoids the separation of the child from his biological family, and provides the necessary economic support for his parents and offers the opportunity to overcome that difficulties that many times are the reasons parents chose to give their children up for adoption.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 5/5/2008; righe 33, parole 405)
