AMERICA/CHILE - Parliament categorically rejects Bill to depenalise abortion. More than 60 MPs vow to respect human life from conception to natural death

Thursday, 23 November 2006

Santiago (Agenzia Fides) - With a vast majority the Chilean Parliament has declared inadmissible a proposed Bill to depenalise abortion in the country. The Bill drew 'no' votes from 61 MPs, (almost 75 per cent of the House), 21 votes in favour for 3 abstentions. The proposed Bill intended to depenalise abortion: when practised by a doctor with the consent of the mother and before the 12th week of pregnancy; after the twelfth week in the case of danger for the mother’s life or physical, or psycho-social health; in the case of rape. The President of the Camera, Antonio Leal, said the Bill to depenalise abortion was inadmissible because Chile’s Constitution guarantees protection for the life of the unborn child article 19, 1 and 2.
Among various initiatives pro-life organised recently the Santo Tomas Centre for Public Innovation has just concluded a “Globalising a Culture of Life” campaign. Over 60 MPs committed themselves to fostering respect for human life from conception to natural death, denouncing all violations of the right to life. The declaration was signed on 17 November at Santo Tomas University.
The MPs signed the declaration which affirms that the first human right is the right to life, without discrimination; every life deserves to be protected and respected from the moment of conception; respect for life is the basis for all other rights and the primary responsibility of the legislator is to protect unconditionally the life and dignity of every human person. With written commitment the Chilean members of parliament vowed to: respect human life and make it respected from conception to natural death; reject laws which allow or encourage any form of abortion, eugenetics, euthanasia, mutilating therapeutic persistence, cloning or manipulation of human life; denounce any action detrimental to life, whatever its origin or motivation; promote and support public and private institutions which provide physical, affective, medical or moral assistance to families, particularly women of child-bearing age. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 23/11/2006; righe 27, parole 387)


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