the olive press
Search:
Spain's No1 English news website
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Subscribe: RSS or Email

Abortion uproar

March 8, 2010  •  Lead2, National News  •  1 Comments

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (Be the first to rate it)
Loading ... Loading ...

Abortion uproar

THOUSANDS have marched on Madrid to protest against last week’s new abortion laws.

The Partido Popular say they will fight the new bill all the way to the constitutional court.

Fiercely condemned by the Roman Catholic Church, the bill was passed in a close senate vote of 132 to 126.

From July, abortion will be available on demand up to 14 weeks and, if it endangers the mother, up to 22 weeks.

Although the legislation is now in line with many European countries, a strong Catholic opposition slowed the process.

With the Pope due to visit in September, Spanish Catholics will be listening closely to his comments on abortion.

Did you like this? Share it:


Reader Comments »



  1. Rita Joseph says:

    Abortion is primarily a human rights issue, not just a Catholic concern. Historical evidence shows that the drafters of the European Convention on Human Rights(1950) included the unborn child for protection.

    John P. Humphrey, a prominent Canadian professor of international law who was appointed by the UN to oversee the drafting of all the foundational human rights instruments, has reminded us of the real source for the drafting of the European Convention:

    …the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms was modelled on the draft of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as it existed in 1950.

    The draft of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights “as it existed in 1950” affirmed very clearly that the right to life belonged to every human being from the moment of conception.
    The UN Commission on Human Rights at the 6th Session (1950) had agreed on the following text:

    Every human being from the moment of conception has the inherent right to life.

    Inalienability is a fundamental principle of international human rights law. The right to legal protection for every human being from the moment of conception is one of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family proclaimed at the start as the foundation of justice in the world. No one may destroy that right, nor deprive any human being of that right, nor transfer that right, nor renounce it—that’s what inalienable means. And when the Preamble goes on to say:
    …it is essential…that human rights should be protected by the rule of law
    it is clear that no one may remove the human rights of the unborn child from the protection provided by the rule of law. The term “no one” means no treaty monitoring committee, no commission, no legislature, no judiciary—none of these has the authority to de-recognize the human rights of any individual human being or any selected group of human beings. If it is permissible to withdraw legal protection for the human rights of any one group (such as children before birth), then it may be permissible some time in the future to withdraw legal protection for any other group (such as children immediately after birth, children with a disability, Jewish children, middle-aged women with dementia, old men with incontinence, and so on).




Please note: Comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment. There is no need to resubmit your comment.

Messages will be moderated or deleted if they:
• Are considered likely to disrupt, provoke, attack or offend others
• Are racist, sexist, homophobic, sexually explicit, abusive or otherwise objectionable
• Contain swear words or other language likely to offend
• Break the law or condone or encourage unlawful activity. This includes breach of copyright, defamation and contempt of court
• Advertise products or services for profit or gain
• Are seen to impersonate someone else
• Include contact details such as phone numbers, postal or email addresses
• Describe or encourage activities which could endanger the safety or well-being of others



LATEST NEWS FROM THE OLIVE PRESS

Do you have news for us? CLICK to contact us now!

LATEST COMMENTS FROM OUR READERS

 Back to the Top

Related Articles »

An abortion protest that shrank in size thumbnailAn abortion protest that shrank in size

October 29, 2009 | Andalucia National News

Organisers claimed millions of protesters, while the media and police insisted there were 250,000. The truth, it emerges, is much less

Abortion reforms gain momentum thumbnailAbortion reforms gain momentum

November 26, 2009 | National News

Spain’s Abortion law changes are one step closer to reality

Pope – the musical comes to Spain thumbnailPope – the musical comes to Spain

May 12, 2011 | Lead2 National News

Musical tribute to the life of John Paul II

Spanish doctor can refuse patients’ abortions thumbnailSpanish doctor can refuse patients’ abortions

July 1, 2011 | Andalucia Health Lead2 Malaga

Pro-life doctor in Antequera allowed to refuse referring patients for abortions

Vatican confirms Pope’s Spain trip thumbnailVatican confirms Pope’s Spain trip

March 3, 2010 | National News

Pope Benedict XVI will make two-day visit this November

Rome beatifies Franco’s fighters

July 19, 2007 | National News

A SPOKESMAN from the Catholic Church has confirmed Rome will honour almost 500 people who died during Spain’s Civil War. Juan Antonio Martínez Camino said 498 Catholics will be beatified in one ceremony on October 28. “All those murders during the Civil War should be condemned, especially those of people who were killed for their [...]

Podcasts »

Olive Press on Talk Radio Europe – 26 January 2011

January 27, 2012

News editor Wendy Williams talks to Steve Gilmour on Talk Radio Europe about the latest issue of the newspaper including our front page story Lawyers in the Dock

Read Our Latest Print Edition »

NEW!!! Download Olive Press Back Issues »