Agenzia Fides

Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - The Church in Argentina has confirmed its position with a document in favor of the right to life, rejecting bills that promote the legalization of abortion, and also requested that the discussion on this sensitive issue does not cause "division in Argentine society", but rather should eliminate "all forms of violence and aggression". In a statement by the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Conference, presided by Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, the Bishops reiterated that "abortion is never a solution" and pointed out that "when a woman is pregnant, it is not one life we are talking about , but two" and "both must be preserved and respected".
The Bishops, met last week, who in their statement positively judge the government's decision to extend the benefits of "Universal Contribution for the child" (child support) to pregnant women from the third month onwards, and interpret it as a gesture in defense of the value of human life. "We appreciate the recent initiatives for the protection of life with regards to pregnant women. This is a top priority to protect expectant mothers, especially those who are in a state of social marginality, or in serious difficulties at the time of pregnancy" is what is read in the declaration of the Bishops entitled "Not one life, but two".
To prevent the recurrence of a climate of conflict such as that which characterized the debate on the law on the so-called "homosexual marriage", the Church asks that the terms used in the discussion on the decriminalization of abortion "must have the utmost respect, eliminating all forms of violence and aggression, as these attitudes are not up to the value and dignity that we promote". Showing themselves willing to "listen, follow and understand every situation", the Bishops state that "a legislative decision that considers the decriminalization of abortion positive would have legal, cultural and ethical consequences". Furthermore the law, as the basis of the legal system, has a "pedagogical sense for the life of society. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 27/08/2011)