EUROPE/PORTUGAL - The Bishops of Portugal, in plenary assembly, reaffirm opposition to the new Bill on abortion: "the Church continues to be faithful to her mission to announce the Gospel of the fullness of life and denounce any attack on life"

Tuesday, 17 April 2007

Fatima (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Bishops of Portugal have reaffirmed their opposition to abortion denouncing a new Bill to de-penalise abortion in that country. This was said by Bishop Jorge Ortiga, president of the Bishops Conference and Archbishop of Braga, in his address to open a plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference taking place in Fatima 16 to 20 April. A February 11 referendum on abortion resulted in a ‘yes’ vote but failed to involve the necessary number of voters. The new abortion bill which legalises abortion up to the 10th week of pregnancy was approved by parliament and promulgated by the President of Portugal Aníbal Cavaco Silva.
The President of the Bishops’ Conference said "the Church will continue to remain faithful to her mission to announce the Gospel of the fullness of life and denounce any attack on life ". He also said that since for the bishops the Bill is bad they “cannot support it and will continue to uphold the value of all life ". Moreover "the Bill not only legalises abortion it presents it as a right, a legal action ". "The consciences of Christians and all for whom life is a priority value cannot accept this law ". The Bishop recalled that certain “values and causes are never lost” indeed, "at the time of crisis they appear all the more important" and he stressed that the Church in Portugal will make sure the rights of objection of conscience of doctors and other maternity staff are respected. "We are ready to support all initiatives and measures to assist mothers in difficulty from whatever side they are promoted ", said Bishop Jorge Ortiga.
During the plenary the Bishops will discuss a document on the transmission of life and the formation of the laity; the formation of the clergy and catechisms of varying grades for use in programmes of Catholic morals and religion. The assembly is expected to issue statements to mark the 40th anniversary of the Populorum Progessio encyclical and the 20th anniversary of the encyclical Sollicitudo rei socialis. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 17/4/2007; righe 26, parole 369)


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