The Spanish bishops are denouncing the recent liberalization of abortion laws in the country as a “serious step backward in the protection of the right to life.”
Auxiliary Bishop Juan Antonio Martínez Camino of Madrid, who is a spokesman for Spain’s episcopal conference, said Thursday at a press conference that the law is also “a greater abandonment of expectant mothers as well as, in the last analysis, a very serious destruction of the common good.” Bishop Martínez addressed the press at the end of a meeting of the permanent commission of the bishops’ conference, which took place the day after the Senate in Spain voted to allow abortion without restrictions up to 14 weeks.
The new legislation also allows for 16- and 17- year olds to have an abortion without parental consent, although they are required to inform their parents. Previously, abortions were illegal except for cases of rape (up to week 12) and in cases where the fetus was malformed (up to week 22). Women could also abort at any time if it was determined that the woman was under emotional distress.
The new legislation permits abortion up to 22 weeks if the mother’s health is at risk, or if there is a fetal malformation. And abortion beyond 22 weeks is allowed if the fetus is severely malformed, or diagnosed with a serious or incurable disease.
King Juan Carlos I is now required by the Constitution to sign the law for it to become law.
MADRID, Spain, FEB. 26, 2010 (Zenit.org)