Mexico City legalizes abortion

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Mexico City legalizes abortion
Staff and agencies
25 April, 2007

By MARK STEVENSON, Associated Press Writer 26 minutes ago

MEXICO CITY - Mexico City lawmakers voted to legalize abortion during the first three months of pregnancy, a landmark decision likely to heighten church-state tensions in the Roman Catholic nation and lead to a bitter court battle.

Abortion-rights advocates said they hoped the vote would be the start of a new trend across Mexico and other parts of Latin America, where only Cuba and Guyana permit women to have abortions on demand in the first trimester. Most other Latin American countries allow it only in cases of rape or when the woman‘s life is at risk. Nicaragua, El Salvador and Chile ban it completely.

"This is a step backward for democracy," said Armando Martinez, the leader of a Catholic lawyers‘ group that has petitioned the leftist-dominated legislature for a referendum on the issue. The church has played a vocal role in opposing the measure, a position shared by President Felipe Calderon‘s conservative National Action Party. Mexico City Cardinal Norberto Rivera led a protest march through the capital last month, pushing the limits of Mexico‘s constitutional ban on political activity by religious groups.

The bill, approved 46-19, with one abstention, will take effect with the expected signing by the city‘s leftist mayor. The new law will require city hospitals to provide the procedure in the first trimester and opens the way for private abortion clinics. Girls under 18 would have to get their parents‘ consent.



Read more: http://www.localnewswatch.com/jordanfalls/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=101904

[K8-EEE]

1. K&R

A step backwards for the ruling class who want to subjegate and control people's lives in every way!

[raccoon]

2. K&R nt