Young people present 250,000 signatures opposing abortion to Argentinean lawmakers

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mar 28, 2006 / 22:00 pm

Pro-life groups in Argentina presented a petition signed by 250,000 people to lawmakers this week demanding they refrain from legalizing abortion in the country.

The campaign to collect signatures began on December 28, 2004, and was intended to be a local effort at first, but later became a nationwide initiative.

Pro-life groups said the purpose of the project was to make Argentinean lawmakers aware of their opposition “to the legalization of this horrendous crime.”  The original plan was to present the petition on March 25, Day of the Unborn Child in Argentina, but since the day fell on a Saturday, when lawmakers are not in session, the petition was presented instead on March 28.

“The Day of the Unborn Child is the appropriate occasion for ending this campaign…and we will praying in every corner of the country that our opinion will reach the hearts and minds of our lawmakers,” pro-life leaders said in a statement.  They noted that many lawmakers are pro-life, and “it is our duty to give them all the necessary help to prevent the deaths of millions of Argentineans.”

If Argentineans do not mobilize and abortion becomes legal, they continued, “we will be responsible for not having done enough to stop this horrendous crime.”