Mexican Bishops Condemn Recent Pro-Abortion Ruling

The Mexican Bishops' Conference (CEM) has taken a firm stand against the recent pro-abortion ruling by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN). In a statement issued on September 7, the bishops reiterated their belief that "all human life, from conception to natural death, has worth regardless of its conditions and eventualities."

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Highlights

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
9/12/2023 (1 year ago)

Published in Marriage & Family

Keywords: Mexico, Archdiocese, Supreme Court, abortion, limits, arguments

The ruling in question, delivered on September 6 by the First Chamber of the SCJN, declared "unconstitutional the legal system that criminalizes abortion in the Federal Penal Code." This decision came as a result of a challenge by the feminist organization Information Group on Reproductive Choice (GIRE), which argued that the sections of the code criminalizing abortion violated the constitution.

The Mexican bishops clarified that the SCJN's decision "does not constitute a general declaration of invalidity of the articles that prohibit abortion in the Federal Penal Code, since they remain in force for the rest of the population; nor does it represent an obligation for the [state legislatures] to rush to decriminalize abortion in their respective penal codes."

However, the bishops emphasized that this ruling underscores a social reality that must be addressed conscientiously. They warned against society's tendency to "wash its hands by eliminating the weakest, the nascent person." Instead, they called for efforts to "create the best conditions to welcome life and not throw it away."

For the CEM, the decriminalization of induced abortion normalizes a "throwaway culture" and absolves authorities and society of their responsibility to care for and protect all human life. They firmly asserted that the "conception and birth of a new life represent a good whose value is infinite" and, as such, it is a responsibility that extends beyond the pregnant woman to society as a whole.

The bishops stressed that institutionalizing violence against the weak through the legalization of abortion would be deplorable and contrary to the principles of human dignity. Instead, they advocated for solidarity and subsidiary aid to support families, single mothers, orphaned and abandoned children, alongside comprehensive affective sex education and responsible parenting.

While acknowledging "attenuating factors" in cases of abortion, the bishops made it clear that this should not be equated with the legalization or endorsement of the practice. They firmly asserted that induced abortion can never be considered a moral or legitimate option.

The CEM highlighted the role of faith in understanding the gravity of abortion and called on Catholics to proclaim "the greatness and dignity of every man, whose life is a gift of God." They emphasized that every life, in all its forms, should be welcomed and protected, echoing the teachings of Jesus Christ, who is "the way, truth, and life." The Mexican Bishops' Conference remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the sanctity of life from conception to natural death.