AMERICA/CHILE - “We reject a State which robs us of our freedom”: Bishop Ramos on the subject of abortion law

Wednesday, 14 June 2017

Santiago (Agenzia Fides) – “The door is being opened for the State to rob citizens of their freedom to make decisions to protect life” said Bishop Fernando Ramos, Auxiliary of Santiago and Secretary General of the Conference of the Catholic Bishops of Chile (CECh), as Chile’s Senate Commission prepares to vote on the nation’s abortion law. The new law establishes that only a medical doctor can claim to be a "conscientious objector " as an individual, but not the paramedic team assisting the medic. This has triggered strong reaction also on the part of the local Church. Bishop Ramos declared to the press: "Something which is not human it is neither democratic, nor civil".
The Bishop explains in the report sent to Fides by CECh, that according to the new law, "all health structures, hospitals, universities and private clinics whose purpose or institutional orientation is for a clear choice for the protection and defence of human life, always and in every circumstance, could be forced to betray their institutional characteristics and agree to perform abortions as a legal health service ".
This would mean that every healthcare centre is bound to accept this " healthcare prescription" and that all the staff involved (anesthetists, paramedics, nurses, technical staff, etc.) would be bound to act against their Christian conscience or principles to always safeguard and protect life. "Can the State decide for us ? Can it decide on the part of institutions? “We reject a State which robs us of our freedom" concludes Bishop Ramos.
(CE) (Agenzia Fides, 14/06/2017)


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