Mexican pro-lifers have had quite a fight on their hands these days. The
PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) has recently lost a national election,
and after 70 years of power, patronage and corruption, they have to hand
over power to the relatively conservative PAN (National Action Party).
While the PAN leader Vicente Fox looks promising, Mexican pro-lifers are
taking a wait-and-see attitude, before passing judgment on his actual
commitment to life issues, while he is in power. Mr. Fox is known to be
a devout Catholic, but has remained quiet on the abortion issue.
The National Post reported July 1 that in response to a question
about abortion and homosexuality, Mr. Fox said, "I am a Catholic, so I
don't agree with such things. But I would not legislate against them."
In an exclusive interview with The Interim, Rocio Galvez de Lara,
vice- president of Pro-Vida, Mexico's largest pro-life organization, said
that the secular media and abortion activists have been relentlessly hounding
him. "They are determined to punish and intimidate Mr. Fox because of
earlier statements that he made indicating a pro-life worldview."
The Mexican Catholic Church has also not been spared, nor have they shied
away from this recent controversy. Feminists have furiously trumpeted
the alleged need for abortion for rape victims. The media has also been
relentlessly pummeling the bishops for refusing to bend on those rare
circumstances where a conception does occur from rape.
The
bishop of Guadalajara was attacked by media around the world for arguing
that women should not leave themselves vulnerable to sexual assault by
dressing provocatively, an admittedly controversial thing to say. Sadly
no one questioned why the feminists focus on rape so much, when they actually
want abortion on demand for all nine months.
The left-wing mayor of Mexico City succeeded in pushing legislation through
in August that would allow abortion for rape, genetic defects, complications
with in vitro fertilization, and threats to the life and health of the
mother. Mayor Rosario Robles also wanted contraceptive failure, single
motherhood and poverty to be reasons for allowing abortion, but she failed
to get these exceptions. Her abortion law applies to the Federal District
of Mexico City.
On Sept. 24, more than 25,000 Mexicans from over 100 civic and religious
organizations, with Pro-Vida in the lead, took part in a pro-life march
in Mexico City, protesting the new law. Cardinal Norberto Rivera, Archbishop
of Mexico City, was present at the march and said that life must be defended
from the moment of conception, and that there is no exception that could
justify an abortion.
For their efforts, the cardinal and Pro-Vida have been accused by pro-abortionists
in the media of "inciting hatred and violence against abortion providers
and advocates." Mrs. de Lara told The Interim, "The pro-abortionists
are not at all happy with our parade, now that they have their law they
are very much whining, because we are fighting back." In fact, the only
violence since the Mexico City law passed came from pro-abortion counter-protesters,
who physically attacked Pro-Vida president Jorge Serrano and destroyed
pro-life signs.
The laws in Mexico vary considerably from state to state. The most liberal
state is Yucatan in the south. In this state abortion is permitted for
rape, health, life of the mother, as well as economic circumstances. Pro-life
investigation has revealed, however, that abortion is granted on demand
in one abortuary in the state capital, Merida.
Guanajuato has the nation's most restrictive abortion law. In this state
a debate took place recently on whether legislation should be passed that
would punish women who have been raped with a six-year prison term if
they abort their child.
According to Mrs. Galvez de Lara, the media has "misinformed the public"
on what has taken place in Guanajuato. After a great deal of pro-abortion
advocacy, some sectors of the media have announced that Guanjuato's governor,
Ramon Huerta, caved in and scrapped this tough pro-life law altogether.
Mrs. Galvez de Lara states that "in spite of tremendous pressure to scrap
the law, Ramon Huerta has only modified it after public consultation.
Instead of a mother getting six years for aborting her child, now the
abortionists and anyone who pressures the woman into an abortion will
be liable to six years in prison."
When challenged on whether or not women who abort their children are morally
culpable for their actions, Mrs. De Lara stressed that, "Mexican women
really don't want abortions. They do it out of desperation and ignorance."
The
bishop of Guadalajara was attacked by media around the world for arguing
that women should not leave themselves vulnerable to sexual assault by
dressing provocatively, an admittedly controversial thing to say. Sadly
no one questioned why the feminists focus on rape so much, when they actually
want abortion on demand for all nine months.
The left-wing mayor of Mexico City succeeded in pushing legislation through
in August that would allow abortion for rape, genetic defects, complications
with in vitro fertilization, and threats to the life and health of the
mother. Mayor Rosario Robles also wanted contraceptive failure, single
motherhood and poverty to be reasons for allowing abortion, but she failed
to get these exceptions. Her abortion law applies to the Federal District
of Mexico City.
On Sept. 24, more than 25,000 Mexicans from over 100 civic and religious
organizations, with Pro-Vida in the lead, took part in a pro-life march
in Mexico City, protesting the new law. Cardinal Norberto Rivera, Archbishop
of Mexico City, was present at the march and said that life must be defended
from the moment of conception, and that there is no exception that could
justify an abortion.
For their efforts, the cardinal and Pro-Vida have been accused by pro-abortionists
in the media of "inciting hatred and violence against abortion providers
and advocates." Mrs. de Lara told The Interim, "The pro-abortionists
are not at all happy with our parade, now that they have their law they
are very much whining, because we are fighting back." In fact, the only
violence since the Mexico City law passed came from pro-abortion counter-protesters,
who physically attacked Pro-Vida president Jorge Serrano and destroyed
pro-life signs.
The laws in Mexico vary considerably from state to state. The most liberal
state is Yucatan in the south. In this state abortion is permitted for
rape, health, life of the mother, as well as economic circumstances. Pro-life
investigation has revealed, however, that abortion is granted on demand
in one abortuary in the state capital, Merida.
Guanajuato has the nation's most restrictive abortion law. In this state
a debate took place recently on whether legislation should be passed that
would punish women who have been raped with a six-year prison term if
they abort their child.
According to Mrs. Galvez de Lara, the media has "misinformed the public"
on what has taken place in Guanajuato. After a great deal of pro-abortion
advocacy, some sectors of the media have announced that Guanjuato's governor,
Ramon Huerta, caved in and scrapped this tough pro-life law altogether.
Mrs. Galvez de Lara states that "in spite of tremendous pressure to scrap
the law, Ramon Huerta has only modified it after public consultation.
Instead of a mother getting six years for aborting her child, now the
abortionists and anyone who pressures the woman into an abortion will
be liable to six years in prison."
When challenged on whether or not women who abort their children are morally
culpable for their actions, Mrs. De Lara stressed that, "Mexican women
really don't want abortions. They do it out of desperation and ignorance."
