The primary duty

“If human beings’ right to life is not respected, then the basic moral foundations of human and legal social order marked by justice and solidarity will be missing”. In his homily for the solemnity of Saint Isidor Labrador, the Patron Saint of Madrid, celebrated May 15, the archbishop of Madrid Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela said, “No child must be denied the right to be born”. His Eminence pointed out that, “giving birth is the first fundamental duty to love others, to love the most defenceless”. The previous day, the government of José Luis Zapatero gave the green light to the reform draft bill on abortion that Spanish bishops and pro-life associations strongly opposed. Speaking in the Cathedral the Cardinal called upon all the involved persons “family, friends, private and public bodies” to “conscious awareness” and to “generously and effectively help the mothers give birth to the child they conceived”. As a consequence of the respect for life, the Cardinal added, “fraternal support will be given to all men in need: a home, health treatment, education, culture and employment in every city, in every Country … in Madrid, in Spain, in Europe and in any other place in the world. Loving our neighbours requires everyone’s participation to the common good of society and of the political community inside and outside our own Land”. The draft bill. On May 14 Spain’s Council of ministers approved the draft bill on “voluntary pregnancy interruption and sexual and reproductive health”, which provides for voluntary abortion until the 14th week of pregnancy and until the 22nd week in case of risk of the life or health of the woman or in case of serious abnormalities in the fetus. In both cases a physician’s statement is requested. From that moment onwards pregnancy interruption can be authorised only prior to the assessment of a multi-disciplinary medical commission following the request of the pregnant mother in case of life-threatening abnormalities in the fetus or incurable diseases. The document establishes that no woman will ever be sentenced to prison for interrupting her own pregnancy. Once approved, the new regulation will replace the current legislation in force since 1985, which decriminalized abortion in case of violence, serious malformation of the fetus and danger for the physical and mental health of the mother. The bill envisages 16 as the legal age enabling to opt for voluntary pregnancy interruption. According to the Spanish minister for Equality Bibiana Aído, the government’s project is the result of the “largest possible consensus” since there was “a hot parliamentary debate involving MPs, experts, social organizations, youth, women and professionals”. The results of a survey. Several pro-life associations protested they were barely consulted, while the “Madrid Manifesto”, in which over one thousand scientists claim that life begins from the moment of conception, was ignored. Not only: the platform “Right to Life” presented the findings of a survey carried out by Sigma 2. Accordingly, a large majority of citizens reject the bill. In particular, 43.1% of the women reject the terms of the bill, while 34.3% are in favour. On the whole, 40.5% of the population rejects the bill and 36.7% approve it. The survey by Sigma 2 shows that there isn’t a social request for this reform, which is in fact rejected by the majority of citizens. Findings also show it is rejected by more women than men, thus discrediting the government’s campaign that the bill benefits women. Against the Constitution. According to the Professionals for Ethics (PPE), this bill will lead to a greater promotion of abortion and to the use of condoms among adolescents despite their parents’ concern. “It is evident that the Government encourages children and Spanish youth to accept abortion in terms of a further affective and sexual option against the will of their own parents”, remarked PPE Secretary General Fabián Fernández de Alarcón, who claimed, “the Socialist Government is acting against Spain’s Constitution that provides for the parents’ right to educate their children in compliance with religious and moral beliefs”. Therefore, “as PPE representatives – he added – we will take the necessary steps to defend the fundamental rights of parents in the difficult realm of affective and sexual education”.