Mexico about to legalize abortion; Catholics protest (news/commentary)

Update: CNA has more on the Pope's letter.

Reuters reports [my comments in brackets]:

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexicans marched on Sunday against plans to legalize abortion in Mexico City, a move that has split opinion in the world's second-largest Roman Catholic country and drawn fire from the Pope.

[drawn fire? Amen, as well it should. Still, Benedict doesn't spout fire, he flash-freezes with cool logic.]

The bells of Mexico City's vast cathedral welcomed some 1,000 Roman Catholics, including families dressed in white, who packed it for Mass after carrying anti-abortion placards and images of the revered Virgin of Guadalupe through the streets.

Mexico City's local legislature, controlled by the leftist opposition Party of the Democratic Revolution, or PRD, is expected to approve a bill on Tuesday allowing abortions in the capital during the first three months of pregnancy.

While the proposal is popular with many residents of liberal-minded Mexico City, it has also angered Catholics across the country, enraged clergy who helped organize Sunday's march and brought Pope Benedict himself into the dispute.

[Catholics are "angry", clergy are "engaged", Pope Benedict "himself" is called in to the fray .. who would ever guess that reason is on their side, that their position is consistent, and that pro-life advocates are some of the most mild-mannered individuals you'll ever come across in political activism?]

In a letter to Mexican bishops, the Pope said Christ's victory over death was a reason to defend everyone's right to life "from the first moment of their conception."

[I still don't see how this is direct involvement. Rather, Pope Benedict merely seems to be upholding Church teaching. NB: can anyone find and send me a link to this document? Thanks.]

"They are committing genocide, no-one has the right to take away life," said Maria Morales, a housewife who had traveled south from the state of Hidalgo to attend the rally.

Women seeking abortions in Mexico have to use clandestine clinics. The poorest rely on back-street practitioners working out of unhygienic premises. Some 2,000 die annually, the bill's supporters say.

[This statistic is challenged by the National Pro-Life Committee in Mexico, which says the actual number is 96 (source - the supporters of the bill can't decide on a claimed number, alternately citing 1600)]

While anti-abortion activists hung a banner outside the cathedral showing gory images of aborted fetuses, a small group of PRD supporters shouted slogans supporting the bill.

[I'd be extremely surprised if this is an accurate and objective one-sentence summary of the situation.]

"We want abortion legalized to stop more women dying," said PRD activist Cecilia Martinez.

The PRD, which also runs the capital's city hall, has angered religious groups by trying to swiftly pass liberal reforms. The assembly approved gay civil unions in November despite protests and is now considering a euthanasia law.

[one-by-one the pillars of a healthy Christian society fall.]

Special laws in Mexico City already permit abortion when a mother's life is threatened, but the rest of the country allows it only in case of rape.

The church has threatened to excommunicate legislators who support the abortion bill. Lawmakers have countered by accusing the church of meddling in politics, which is forbidden under Mexico's constitution.

CNA has some coverage.

CWNews adds more about attempts to stop this from happening:

Mexico City, Apr. 20, 2007 (CWNews.com) - With lawmakers in Mexico City poised to vote on a government proposal that would allow legal abortion through the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, Church leaders are pressing for a popular referendum on the issue.

A vote on the bid to legalize abortion in the Mexico City district is scheduled for Tuesday, April 24. But Catholic leaders-- who have led opposition to the measure-- are now urging lawmakers to postpone action until the public can vote on the issue.

Catholic leaders report that they have already collected 32,000 signatures on a petition asking for a referendum. Their goal is to amass 36,900 signatures. If they reach that goal, lawmakers will be required by law to consider the request, but not obligated to grant it. Local government leaders say that they are committed to pressing for an April 24 vote, regardless of the petitions.

Church spokesman Armando Martinez conceded, in speaking to reporters, "In the end, the assembly is going to have the last word on this, with or without a referendum." He added, however, that "with a referendum they would be listening to the people."

I'd say from what I've briefly read that there isn't much hope of an 11th-hour stay of execution here. Mexico seems to be going the way of Portugal and several other traditionally-Catholic countries on the issue of abortion. We need to keep this whole situation in our close prayers. I'll be posting more on this topic as I find it.