AFRICA/NIGERIA - The Bishops: "No to mass abortion for girls raped by Boko Haram; we are ready to help"

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - No to abortion of girls released by Boko Haram, who got pregnant as a result of rape and forced mating by some members of the terrorist group. This was made known by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) Health Committee Chairman, Most Rev. Anselm Umoren, the Auxiliary Bishop of Abuja Archdiocese.
Thanks to the recent offensive carried out by the Nigerian military in the north of the Country, several hundred women and girls, abducted by the Boko Haram Islamist sect, have regained their freedom. Several of them got pregnant after having been sexually abused by their kidnappers.
"We condemned in strong terms some misguided actions being canvassed by a cross section of persons and groups to the effect that mass abortion should be performed for the women", said Mgr. Umoren in a message sent to Agenzia Fides, referring to the ongoing debate on how to help the pregnant girls.
"It is not tenable the suggestion that killing the babies conceived through rape by the terrorists is the most humane action to take in this instance", says Mgr. Umoren. "Since the babies are ignorant and innocent of the crimes against their mothers, it is unethical to punish them for the sins and offences of their erring fathers".
The head of the pastoral health care stressed that the Catholic Church is ready to help the victims who have suffered "the enormous trauma of sexual violence". "The Catholic Church in Nigeria in cooperation with all people of goodwill is ever prepared to provide every measure of support to accelerate the healing, rehabilitation and resettlement of the victims so that they can swiftly be reintegrated into the society". (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 29/05/2015)