In Italy the Supreme Court of Appeal has given the go-ahead to five referendums on assisted procreation. The five petitions have been admitted by the court’s central office for referendums. Now it will be the Constitutional Court that will be called to convene a hearing in camera by 20 January and rule by 10 February whether to admit these referendums or not. The Democrats of the Left and the Radicals have promoted the five referendums to abrogate in part or in whole Law 40 approved by the Italian Parliament on medically assisted procreation. Concern remains high that, following a public opinion campaign aimed at confusing people, a law may be abrogated that was a proof of civilization, albeit susceptible of improvement. Denying to the human embryo the protection and recognition of the rights of the person could condemn Italy to returning to one of the culturally darkest moments in its recent history: that of the free and non-punishable suppression of human beings in the initial phase of their development. Bureaucracy may run its course, but the conscience of man, called to goodness and truth, cannot be suppressed.
