Mexican capital legalizes abortion, defies church

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The Mexican capital legalized abortion on Tuesday, defying the church but delighting feminists in the world's second-largest Roman Catholic country.

Mexico City lawmakers voted 46 to 19 to pass a leftist-sponsored bill allowing women to abort in the first three months of pregnancy.
Reuters Pictures
Photo

Editors Choice: Best pictures
from the last 24 hours.
View Slideshow

The abortion vote split Mexico and prompted a letter last week from Pope Benedict urging Mexican bishops to oppose it.

Riot police kept rival groups of rowdy demonstrators apart outside the city's assembly building. Weeping anti-abortion protesters played tape recordings of babies crying and carried tiny white coffins.

Until Tuesday, only Cuba, Guyana and U.S. commonwealth Puerto Rico allowed abortion on demand in Latin America.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2441855220070424

[HockeyMom]

1. Following Spain

Catholic Church having less and less hold on government. Good.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. Let's work on the fundie evangelicals and Muslims too.

And the caste system in India -- does that come from Hinduism or is it a secular thing?

[Colobo]

5. "Progress is nothing but the victory of laughter over dogma" -Benjamin DeCasseres

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

10. ...

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

18. I agree. n/t

[JVS]

2. Next time the Virgin Mary appears in Mexico, she's going to be pissed!

[Colobo]

3. When men take true control over our penises and our sexuality

abortion rates will drop dramatically.

[judaspriestess]

6. This is great news

now if only the officials in Mexico would be more pro-active in educating on birth control, there wouldn't be a need for abortions.

[Colobo]

7. Exactly. Abortions should be rare in progressive societies

because sexual education and availability of birth control methods would make the trick.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

8. Even so, accidents will happen here and there.

The condom will break. The daily contraceptive may have been badly prescribed. The day-after pill may not work. Or dumb people will just keep popping up.

What then?

[Colobo]

9. The number of abortions would be much lower

because contraceptives are generally very effective.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

11. But they'd STILL have to be legal because of the few but more than zero situations I laid out.

Don't you agree?

[Colobo]

13. Of course I agree. I want abortions legal.

I just think good sexual education and promotion/availability of birth control methods would prevent many abortions, and that's ideal IMO.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

15. That goes without saying. Of course, the RW doesn't want those either. -nt

Boy, I finally get you to say "I want abortions legal." Was like extracting a tooth. Must have hurt, huh? Nothing some righteous prayer won't wash from your soul.

[judaspriestess]

14. I agree with you on accidents happening

and the need for abortions is still definitely needed but the point I'm making is birth control education should still be taught to reduce the need for abortions as a last resort.

I just saw a commercial for a new birth control product, don't ask me the name, but its a small plastic type IUD that works for five years. That should be made available to women everywhere, especially in poorer countries.

[and-justice-for-all]

12. Thats because NO ONE wants to live in a Theocracy...

..The church has, in more then one case, over stepped its bounds.

Cheers to Mexico!!!

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

19. I agree. n/t

[BlooInBloo]

16. It's a sad testament to historical human weakness that "defying the church" is a big deal.

[Ilsa]

17. I knew twenty years ago they were headed in this direction.

NAtional Geographic was reporting how women in the capital were tired of having children and being poor from it. THey were taking birth control pills and not telling their husbands, or getting tubal ligations when they felt like they had enough kids. Abortion rights would eventually get a foot in the door.