Spain’s controversial new abortion law has passed through both Congress and the Senate and will shortly become law. However that has not prevented those who bitterly oppose the legislation from taking to the streets in all the major towns and cities in Spain on Sunday.The law will bring Spain in to line with the majority of other EU nations. It also proposes that girls aged 16 can have an abortion without telling their parents. This clause still stands but has been amended saying they should inform their parents but if passing on the information would leave them open to violence or difficult situations then they do not have to do so.
The Partido Popular has chosen to make the new law a campaigning issue and says that if returned to office it would overturn it. It had also pledged to ask the Constitutional Court to reject the legislation. Many of its leading figures took part in the street marches turning demonstrations of conscience in to political parades.
The main opposition to the law has been headed by Catholic lay organisations under the Derecho a Vivir banner which is part of Hazteoir.org. It is now involved in a dispute with its one time partner Foro Español that boycotted Sunday’s demonstrations. They say there is no different between them on core beliefs – so I guess it is a clash of egos making the embryo a curate’s egg.
I have made my belief plain here in the past. I can accept contraception but I cannot condone abortion as a belated form of conception. I believe the unborn child demands our protection except in exceptional circumstances. However I object to a political party high jacking the issue for their electoral gain – especially as the Partido Popular introduced the current abortion law. I also object to the PP wearing the purple of the Catholic Church's hierarchy - we have been here before under Franco.
I would argue that a person’s view on abortion is a personal, core issue hence whilst my beliefs will not be shaken I accept those who sincerely hold opposing views will not be moved either. Any political party is a wide church so its members will hold a variety of beliefs be it right, left or centre - matters of conscience should not be manipulated for political gain.
2 comments:
David
Surely we want to elect people/parties that support our views. Otherwise why have elections. So, if you hold views on the abortion law, then it is right a proper that a party/individual should use that issue to elicit your vote.
Matters of conscience are important and should be part of the political debate. How else would we get change?
Nigel Cobb
If the Catholic church were to take a more pragmatic view with regard to contraception,then the abortion issue would diminish greatly.However when the Pope continues to condem the use of condoms,even in Aids ridden countries,it shows a total lack of understanding or empathy for ordinary people.
Indeed this issue alone is driving a wedge between the American Catholics and the rest of the world.Many American priests have taken to telling parishioners that contraception is an issue of personal conscience,but the lack of concensus on the issue could lead to a split in the church.
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