A Chilean cardinal has urged people to “fight” for the lives of unborn children as his country prepares to overturn its abortion ban.
Responding to news of the introduction of a bill before Chile’s parliament to allow abortion in cases of rape or a threat to the life of a mother, Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati, president of the Chilean Bishops’ Conference issued a call for the faithful nationwide to “fight and get organised”.
“I know that the laypeople of Chile are organising to proclaim what our faith says about life and our conviction to defend it,” he said. “I am very happy that the laypeople are assuming their responsibilities and are ready to take on this fight.”
Abortion has been a crime in Chile since 1989, punishable by imprisonment of up to five years. Legislators are now considering legalising terminations up to the 12th week of pregnancy for girls and women over 14 years of age. For girls under 14, the proposed law would offer an extension to the 18th week, allowing for a young girl taking longer to realise she is pregnant. In this latter category, a girl could procure a termination without parental consent. In all cases, terminations must be based on the issues of rape or medical threat, or, for the foetus, where there is a diagnosis of ‘incompatible with life’.
While the legislation will include a conscience clause for medical practitioners, where a woman seeks an ’emergency abortion’ and there is no other doctor available, a physician is compelled to perform the procedure, regardless of personal beliefs.
There have been no fewer than 12 previous and unsuccessful attempts to roll back the abortion ban in Catholic-majority Chile.
The latest abortion bill was an election promise of socialist President Michelle Bachelet.