Catholic Bishops on abortion laws

Disna MUDALIGE

The Catholic Bishops' Conference (CBC) yesterday expressed its opposition to the proposed relaxation of laws pertaining to abortions in Sri Lanka and requested President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the government not to proceed with it.

Archbishop of Colombo Most Rev Father Malcolm Cadinal Ranjith addressing a press conference held at the SEDEC yesterday stated that the Church is against the Child Development and Women's Affairs Ministry's move to introduce amendments to relax laws pertaining to abortions.

He observed that every life is considered a gift of the God, adding that depriving the right to live is a violation of the teachings of all religions and is inconsistent to our culture.

He observed that life begins from the date of conception and it is the duty of all to protect that life which is unable to voice its needs or fight to protect itself.

He also stated that certain international groups with vested interests of the West are pressuring the government to relax the laws pertaining to abortions. He said that this is the first step in legalizing abortions.

The Cardinal also noted that even with physical defects every child has the right to live and should be considered as a gift to society.

He noted that every child has hidden capacities and talents and its the same even for differently-abled children.

He also observed that an abortion can also have complications such as, future infertility and underweight child births, and it leaves a lot of pain in the mind. Commenting on the proposal to allow abortions in situations, such as, being raped during teen by a close relative, he noted that the unborn baby should not be punished for the crime since he or she is not the culprit.