Mexico City, Mexico, Apr 11, 2007 / 09:04 am
The director of the Institute for Youth in Mexico City, Javier Hidalgo, announced this week he would support a move to allow minors to obtain abortions without parental consent.
Hidalgo, a member of the Socialist PRD party, has supported efforts by the Mexico City Legislative Assembly to legalize abortion and told reporters that in cases of “unwanted pregnancies,” the State should assume responsibility for underage girls as in cases of guardianship.
According to the Mexican daily “Milenio,” Hidalgo said “women will not fully have the right to chose regarding the termination of pregnancies if the law stipulates they must have the consent of their parents.”
In response, Bishop Artemio Flores of Chalco called on young women to appreciate the dignity of motherhood and to protect the rights of their children.
Likewise, he explained that the Church “rejects the sophisms with which some are attempting to justify abortion, arguing that this is a question of public health for the good of women and of their right to make decisions about their bodies.”