World Congress of Families Cautions Portugal Against Legalizing Abortion
CCN, July 10, 2006 - /Christian Newswire/ -- Portugal’s
socialist government is pushing for a far-reaching
expansion of abortion. Currently, the procedure is
legal only in cases of rape or if the mother’s
life is endangered, and illegal in all cases after
the twelfth week of gestation.
The government wants abortion on demand during the
first trimester -- despite the rejection of liberalized
abortion in a 1998 referendum.
Allan Carlson, organizer of the World Congress of
Families urged Portugal not to follow America’s
example.
“In the United States, abortion was legalized
by judicial fiat in 1973. We now have approximately
1.3 million abortions a year. Frequently, boyfriends
or male family members pressure women into having abortions.
With abortion has come a general increase in sexual
activity, especially among the young and vulnerable,” Carlson
observed.
Carlson warned of the consequences of embracing a
culture of death. “Legalized abortion has resulted
in increased infanticide. It’s also given impetus
to campaigns for euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide,
as well as embryonic stem-cell research.”
In March, 2004, a petition with 190,000 signers opposing
abortion was presented to Portugal’s parliament.
Still, despite an earlier promise of another referendum,
Portugal’s government seems determined to press
ahead with legalization through parliamentary action.
In 2005, the European Union called on member nations
(including pro-life states like Poland, Ireland and
Malta) to guarantee what it called “high- quality/women-centered” health
care, including “safe abortion.”
Said Carlson, “Anti-family forces in Portugal
are working in tandem with a European bureaucracy
bent on eradicating choice among nations, when it
comes to protecting the unborn child.”
World Congress of Families IV – an international
gathering of pro-family organizations, activists,
scholars and parliamentarians – will convene
in Warsaw, May 11-13, 2007. The Congress is committed
to the protection of human life “from conception
to natural death.”
# # #
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information on the World Congress of Families,
including the upcoming Warsaw Congress, go to www.worldcongress.org.
CCN, July 10, 2006 - /Christian Newswire/ -- Portugal’s
socialist government is pushing for a far-reaching
expansion of abortion. Currently, the procedure is
legal only in cases of rape or if the mother’s
life is endangered, and illegal in all cases after
the twelfth week of gestation.
The government wants abortion on demand during the
first trimester -- despite the rejection of liberalized
abortion in a 1998 referendum.
Allan Carlson, organizer of the World Congress of
Families urged Portugal not to follow America’s
example.
“In the United States, abortion was legalized
by judicial fiat in 1973. We now have approximately
1.3 million abortions a year. Frequently, boyfriends
or male family members pressure women into having abortions.
With abortion has come a general increase in sexual
activity, especially among the young and vulnerable,” Carlson
observed.
Carlson warned of the consequences of embracing a
culture of death. “Legalized abortion has resulted
in increased infanticide. It’s also given impetus
to campaigns for euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide,
as well as embryonic stem-cell research.”
In March, 2004, a petition with 190,000 signers opposing
abortion was presented to Portugal’s parliament.
Still, despite an earlier promise of another referendum,
Portugal’s government seems determined to press
ahead with legalization through parliamentary action.
In 2005, the European Union called on member nations
(including pro-life states like Poland, Ireland and
Malta) to guarantee what it called “high- quality/women-centered” health
care, including “safe abortion.”
Said Carlson, “Anti-family forces in Portugal
are working in tandem with a European bureaucracy
bent on eradicating choice among nations, when it
comes to protecting the unborn child.”
World Congress of Families IV – an international
gathering of pro-family organizations, activists,
scholars and parliamentarians – will convene
in Warsaw, May 11-13, 2007. The Congress is committed
to the protection of human life “from conception
to natural death.”
# # #
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information on the World Congress of Families,
including the upcoming Warsaw Congress, go to www.worldcongress.org.