CHURCH IN BOLIVIA CONDEMNS DRAFT LAW TO ALLOW ABORTION IN CASES OF 'EXTREME POVERTY'
The new law also proposes that a woman can terminate a pregnancy if she is already the mother of three or more children or if she is a student
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/6857/0/church-in-bolivia-condemns-draft-law-to-allow-abortion-in-cases-of-extreme-poverty-
The Catholic church in Bolivia has condemned a draft law which would allow abortion in cases where the mother is living in ‘extreme poverty’.
Abortion is currently only allowed in the South American nation in cases of rape or incest, or if the woman’s health or life is at risk, however the draft bill – put forward by the country’s Plurinational Legislative Assemblyas part of a project to reform Bolivia's penal system – would allow women living in extreme poverty and without sufficient resources, to have an abortion within the first eight weeks of a pregnancy.
"The proposal distorts the criminal justice system, introducing poverty as a reason for the impunity for crimes such as infanticide and euthanasia, as if being poor is a sufficient justification to violate any law", the country’s bishops said in a statement sent to Fides News on 15 March.
The new law also proposes that a woman can terminate a pregnancy if she is already the mother of three or more children or if she is a student, reports Fides News.
“Life is a gift from God and no one can dispose of it under any circumstances,” said Bishop Aurelio Pesoa Ribera, the Secretary General of the Bishop’s Conference.
