Uruguayan bishops react to legalization of abortion

Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov 8, 2007 / 10:07 am

Bishop Pablo Galimberti denounced the legalization of abortion by the Uruguayan Senate, saying it violates “the first human right.”  Meanwhile the Bishops’ Conference of Uruguay opened an emergency meeting on Wednesday to draft an official response.

Although the norm must be approved by the country’s House of Representatives, the press reported that the bishops have not ruled out collecting signatures to nullify the law in case Congress has enough votes to override a promised presidential veto.

Shortly after his election in March of 2005, President Tabaré Vásquez said he opposed abortion and promised he would veto any attempt to make it legal.

The bishops are meeting in the city of Florida, 60 miles north of the Uruguayan capital Montevideo, in order to discuss the situation.

Bishop Galimberti told the daily Spanish “El Pais” that the vote “does not do honor to so many professionals, politicians, and Uruguayan defenders of the rights of minorities and of human rights who have raised their voices in international forums.”

He also explained that “there is much confusion on the part of many who think this right is defended only by religious arguments and that is not the case.”

“I think biology has shown that, from the first moment, the first cell already contains within it the equivalent of two to six encyclopedias put together,” the bishop said.

He said he was hopeful the president would veto the measure.  “His position is very commendable, very healthy and very hopeful.”