A bill to change Chile’s firm pro-life abortion laws, introduced by the government of Socialist President Michelle Bachelet, has passed the lower house of Congress by a vote of 66-44. According to EWTN News/CNA, the bill, which passed last week, “now passes to the Senate, where analysts believe it may also pass.”
The bill would legalize abortion ”in three cases,” EWTN News/CNA reported” “ risk to the life of the mother, non-viability of the fetus, and rape. It also limits abortion to no more than 12 weeks, though it is extended to 14 weeks in mothers under the age of 14.”
In voting against the measure, Ernesto Silva of the Independent Democratic Union Party (UDI), said “This bill is unconstitutional because it violates the right to life.”
The story offered additional criticism from opponents.
Jaime Bellolio (UDI) said, “I prefer to be politically incorrect and do what’s right … What is just and good doesn’t depend on the majority,” he added.
Added Representative Germán Verdugo (of the National Renewal Party), “[T]hey’re sowing the seeds of injustice and violence. That’s why I will vote against this bill.”
“I’m going to oppose this bill in its entirety,” said Sergio Gahona (UDI) who also voted against the bill. “I would rather lose elections but I will never lose my convictions.”
Likewise Renzo Trisotti (UDI) said, “You’re not going to get me to give legal authorization to kill thousands of defenseless persons.”
Chile is one of seven Latin American countries where there is a total ban on abortion, according to Yahoo News. “The others are El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Surinam.”
Chelsea Garcia is a political writer with a special interest in international relations and social issues. Events surrounding the war in Ukraine and the war in Israel are a major focus for political journalists. But as a former local reporter, she is also interested in national politics.
Chelsea Garcia studied media, communication and political science in Texas, USA, and learned the journalistic trade during an internship at a daily newspaper. In addition to her political writing, she is pursuing a master's degree in multimedia and writing at Texas.
