Nicaragua outlaws abortion even when mother's life is in danger

Published: 2006-11-02

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (CNS) -- The Nicaraguan legislature has amended the country's penal code to prohibit abortion even in cases where the mother's life is in danger. The measure, passed Oct. 26, makes Nicaraguan legislation on abortion among the strictest in Latin America. Before the new law, abortion was permitted in the case of rape or incest or to save the life of the mother. The Nicaraguan bishops, along with evangelical church leaders, had been pushing for a total ban on abortion for some time. On Oct. 6, the churches' leaders sponsored a pro-life march in Managua and demanded that the legislature close the gaps in the existing law. At the march, Bishop Juan Mata Guevara, president of the bishops' commission for life and the family, said any form of direct abortion is an intrinsically censurable act. Catholic Church leaders had originally asked for penalties of up to 20 years for women who have abortions and doctors who perform them. However, the legislature did not raise the six-year penalties already established for nontherapeutic abortions.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .