AMERICA/ARGENTINA - “A society which fails to respect life at all its stages is victim of the worst type of underdevelopment, moral underdevelopment”: College of Lawyers says with regard to the legalisation of abortion

Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - The Argentinean College of Lawyers issued a statement signed by Enrique V. de Carril president and Guillermo Lipera secretary calling public attention to the government’s intention to legalise abortion “contrary to clear constitutional precepts and principles contained in the juridical tradition on the rights of the human person from the moment of conception incorporated in the Civil Code”. In the statement the lawyers reject abortion “a form of homicide since it is the voluntary interruption of the life of a person and what is worse a person totally defenceless”. Moreover, contrary to what is normally said, “there is no alternative between the two values: the freedom of the mother and the life of the unborn child because the concept of value is not absolute. Compared to respect for the basic right to life, freedom of decision to kill this life cannot be considered a value”.
The College of Lawyers recalls that law in Argentina respects the person even before birth and quotes article 70 of the Civil Code which states “life begins in the mother’s womb at the moment of conception”. The lawyers say “this is not a question of religion, or a discussion between conservatives and progressives. It is simply a matter of protecting the right to life ”. Therefore “a society which fails to respect life at all its stages is a victim of moral underdevelopment the worst type of underdevelopment even though it may appear rich in material goods”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 24/5/2006; righe 19, parole 260)