Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) - “This is a deplorable fact. We firmly condemn voluntary interruption of pregnancy. This reform undermines the foundations of the Law and damages civil harmony in which all rights must be respected. There is no future for a society which dares to attack its most vulnerable members. Instead of social progress, it is preparing a return of the rule of force” said a statement issued by the Archbishop of Mexico Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera and his auxiliary Bishops after parliament de-penalised abortion last week (see Fides 25/4/2007, 27/4/2007). The Bishops say they are deeply saddened that despite numerous voices to the contrary, petitions and serious debate, the "Federal District's Legislative Assembly decided to deny the unborn child's right to protection by approving an unjust law".
"The life of every human being belongs to God from the moment of conception and this life is sacred and inviolable, even before birth", the statement affirms. The Bishops say that to violate life is to violate the rights of God and of man and that whatever legal terms are used to describe it "abortion can never be morally right”.
In this situation the Bishops urge "men and women of upright conscience to refuse to be responsible for this abominable act" and recall that "anyone who helps in any way to perform this execrable murder becomes morally responsible for it". The Bishops remind "doctors, nurses and anyone who may be affected by the application of this evil law that they can avail themselves of the right to conscience-objection ". They say mothers in difficulty for whom abortion appears to be the only solution must receive assistance and be helped to realise that abortion "is harmful for their own physical, psychological and moral health, and their spiritual and eternal life, causing them more harm than that which they wish to avoid". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 30/4/2007 righe 27 parole 274)
