Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Madrid (Agenzia Fides) – It all began as the “Manifesto of the 300,” however the name was soon changed to the “Madrid Manifesto” after gaining the support of over one thousand signatures from university professors, scholars, scientists, and experts in the fields of genetics, embryology, medicine, anthropology, philosophy, biology, and history – all before it had even been officially presented. The text, which was presented yesterday (March 17) in Madrid, witnessed an unprecedented participation. It presents proven scientific arguments as a response to the cruel and drastic proposal for abortion reform being promoted by the Government. Those who have signed the document are from among the elite of the biomedical research field in Spain, scholars with a personal history and reputation of service in the most highly regarded research centers in Spain and in the world. The number of adhesions to the document is constantly augmenting, surpassing even the expectations of its creators.
The document “defends human life in its initial, embryonic, and fetal stages and rejects their use for economic or ideological lucrative interests.” According to an explanation given by Dean of Genetics Nicolas Jouve de la Barreda, during the presentation, it is an attempt “to remedy the lack of awareness in society as to when human life begins,” and to argue in its defense, the signers have distanced themselves from any ideological or personal postulates and thus limit themselves to a detailed list of scientific data on the beginnings of life. Among them, for example, is the fact that “there is more than enough scientific evidence that life begins at conception,” and this claim is supported by genetics, cellular biology, and embryology; the fact that “the zygote is the initial corporeal form of the human being and that the embryo (from conception until the eighth week) and the fetus (from the eighth week onwards) are the preliminary stages of development of a new human being and within the mother they do not form part of the substance of the mother nor of any of her organs, although they depend on her for development.”
They also recall that “the biological nature of the embryo and human fetus is independent from the manner in which it was conceived, whether it be as a result of natural reproduction or assisted reproduction methods” and “an abortion is not a 'voluntary termination of a pregnancy' but rather, a simply cruel act of 'termination of a human life.'”
In this regards, Monica Lopez Barahona, academic director of the Center for Bio-health Studies, affirmed that given that the zygote is a life, it is a human life and is a unique individual with in the human species. Thus “it is subject to the same rights as any other individual of the human species.” “Therefore,” she said, “entering into a dialogue in terms of time gaps is not acceptable, because the full membership of a person to the human race does not depend on the number of cells he has or how much he weighs.”
The Manifesto's signers also observed that “abortion is a drama that claims two victims: one dies and the other survives and suffers every day with the consequences of a dramatic and irreparable decision,” which is why they ask that women who decide to abort be made aware of the psychological repercussions, especially in terms of what is known as Post-abortion Syndrome.
In response to the Socialist Party's proposal in Parliament, the scientists propose “strict regulation in order to prevent abuses and fraud in abortion clinics,” and pointed out that “given the transcendent nature of the act, which implies the intervention of medical personnel, freedom of conscientious objection in this matter should be respected, given that a person can never be obliged to act in contrary to their conscience.”
They also affirm that “abortion is especially trying on young women of 16-17 years of age, who try to do without the presence, counsel, and support of their parents in making a decision to continue on with the pregnancy or to abort.” Therefore, “obliging a young woman to decide on her own, at such a tender age, is an act of irresponsibility and a outright form of violence against women.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 18/3/2009)
