Originally Posted By EighthDwarf In case you needed another reason to be angry at the Catholic Church.... <a href="http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1883598,00.html?imw=Y" target="_blank">http://www.time.com/time/world...ml?imw=Y</a> "Abortion is illegal in Brazil except in cases of rape or when the mother's life is in danger, both of which apply in this case. (The girl's immature hips would have made labor dangerous; the Catholic opinion was that she could have had a cesarean section.) When the incident came to light in local newspapers, the Church first asked a judge to halt the process and then condemned those involved, including the 9-year-old's distraught mother. Even Catholic Brazilians were shocked at the harshness of the archbishop's actions. "In this case, most people support the doctors and the family. Everything they did was legal and correct," says Beatriz Galli, the policy associate for Ipsas Brasil, an NGO that fights to give women more say over their health and reproductive rights. "But the Church takes these positions that are so rigid that it ends up weakened. It is very intolerant, and that intolerance is going to scare off more and more followers."
Originally Posted By DyGDisney We had a discussion a few months back on this board about abortion(during the primaries and Sarah Palin's tough anti-abortion stance), and if it should remain legal for a young girl who was raped and got pg to have an abortion. Of course we all thought so, except one person. If this young girl had tried to carry the baby to term, I would think it likely both she and the baby would have died. I can't comprehend this kind of thinking. Maybe because I'm not Catholic?!
Originally Posted By fkurucz It has always been my understanding that if a mother's life is in danger that the Church accepts that terminating a pregnancy is necessary. Keep in mind that this was the Brazilian Bishop's pronouncement, and not official church policy. He does not have the authority to make such a pronouncement.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< It has always been my understanding that if a mother's life is in danger that the Church accepts that terminating a pregnancy is necessary. >>> ... but not in the case of rape or incest.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Sadly this girl has now been raped again by her own church. Even if she did decided to have the babies... How could a nine year old carry twins?
Originally Posted By fkurucz This ruling will almost certainly be overturned by the Vatican. This brings to mind another story in the news lately: That the Church banned texting during Lent. Again it was a single bishop and not the whole church. And even then, its only a suggestion. Whatever self discipline you choose, if any, for Lent is your own business. <... but not in the case of rape or incest.>> Correct.
Originally Posted By fkurucz Also keep in mind that being "excommunicated" does not mean what most people think it does. Unlike in other religions (like LDS) it does not mean that you no longer a member of the Church. All it means is that one cannot receive communion in that particular Bishop's jurisdiction. And all it takes to resolve that is to go to confession. And FWIW, i have never heard of it being enforced at the parish level anyway. Heck, it is unheard of for known non-Catholics like Bill Clinton or pro-abortion Catholics like Nancy Pelosi or Ted Kennedy to be denied communion.
Originally Posted By DAR <<That the Church banned texting during Lent.>> The bishop that suggested it looked at as a way for people to talk to each other, which isn't that bad of an idea.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< This ruling will almost certainly be overturned by the Vatican. >>> Uh, sorry. In fact, the opposite has happened: <a href="http://mb.laughingplace.com/MsgBoard-T-104295-P-1.asp" target="_blank">http://mb.laughingplace.com/Ms...-P-1.asp</a>
