Church in Nicaragua stands firm in pro-life position

Managua, Nicaragua, Jan 26, 2007 / 09:36 am

The president of the Bishops’ Conference of Nicaragua, Archbishop Leopoldo Brenes of Managua reiterated this week that the Church in that country would not change its position, which supports the defense of life from the moment of conception and opposes all types of abortion.

In response to efforts by pro-abortion feminists to get so-called therapeutic abortion reinstated in Nicaragua after it was outlawed three months ago, Archbishop Brenes said, “The only option is to oppose therapeutic abortion. We are standing firm in our principles.”

“In those cases (when the health of the mother is in danger) the Church logically speaks up in defense of those who are the weakest,” he told reporters.  He also proposed that a forum be held which would inform people that the medical sciences have advanced to the point that it is no longer necessary to perform abortions to save the life of the mother.

Msgr. Rene Sandigo, Secretary for the Nicaraguan Bishops Conference, said the Church’s proposal was not hasty but rather well thought-out after consultations with many doctors as well as national and international experts.

“Currently there is a campaign of misinformation so that people get confused and stop opposing therapeutic abortion.  Likewise the government could be under pressure from international organizations to back away from the position it took at first in support of the people,” Msgr. Sandigo stated.

“Therefore a forum would be very important to inform not in order to reconcile, because the two positions are irreconcilable.  The Church will never be in agreement with the culture of death. The idea here is to inform the people,” he added.

Msgr. Sandigo called on the Sandinista government to resist external pressures and not to fail “a people in need, a people upon whom you cannot impose a law that does not square with our culture of life.”