Abortion law in Spain is dividing society, argue pro-life groups

Madrid, Spain, Aug 5, 2010 / 10:12 am

Pro-life associations in Spain said this week that a 6-5 ruling by the country’s Constitutional Court refusing to suspend the new law on abortion demonstrates how the legislation is “profoundly dividing Spanish society.”

The president of the Forum on the Family, Benigno Blanco, told Europa Press that since the law has taken effect, “Society is more defenseless in matters of rights and freedoms.” He noted that this is especially true regarding “the right to life of the unborn and the freedom of women to receive help when facing the issue of abortion.”

Blanco said the court should issue a ruling as soon as possible declaring “the unconstitutionality of the law.” 

“The court needs to be reminded that a month has already passed and many abortions have taken place,” he added.

Jose Carlos Munoz, spokesman of the association Right to Life, also expressed regret that the court did not place an injunction on the new law, and called on citizens to engage in “legal and peaceful resistance.”  He said the number of abortions as a result of the law will go up from 120,000 last year to 200,000 this year.  Munoz also encouraged health care professionals to exercise their right to conscientious objection and said it should be a matter of policy that women inquiring about abortions be given information on alternatives and be allowed to see ultrasound images of the fetus.

In Madrid, the president of the Institute for Family Policy, Mariano Martinez, said the new law provides no help to pregnant women and no mechanisms to protect motherhood, and instead is focused on maximizing profits from abortion.  He lamented the use of tax-payer funds to promote “the business of abortion clinics.”