Sep 7, 2005 / 22:00 pm
In keeping with a promise made by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the country’s bishops, the federal government in Brazil announced it would postpone sending a bill up to congress that would legalize abortion.
In August, President Lula sent a letter to the president of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo, in which he reaffirmed his commitment to defend life in all of its stages. On Wednesday the federal government decided to postpone bring up the measure, which was scheduled to be brought up for consideration on September 1.
The measure would legalize abortion on demand up to twelve weeks and at any time if the mother’s life were in danger or if a the baby were to be determined to have a malformation deemed “incompatible” with life.
The measure would also allow abortions to be obtained at tax-funded health facilities and would remove any criminal sanctions attached to the procedure, as well as authorize minors to obtain abortions without parental consent.