Church intensifies efforts to derail abortion bill in Mexico

Published: 2007-03-26

MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- With protests, a pilgrimage and emphatic declarations, the Catholic Church has intensified its efforts to derail legislative proposals which would decriminalize abortion in Mexico. The issue also reignited tension between the church and Mexico's left, and led to renewed questions over whether clergy and Catholic groups can participate in political activism in a nation where religion and state are divided by law. Events culminated March 25, when nearly 10,000 people took part in the Pilgrimage for Life in Mexico City to protest bills in the national Congress and the capital assembly which would allow abortions during the first three months of pregnancy. Garbed in white and bearing slogans such as "We Defend Life" and "Thou Shall Not Kill," participants sang hymns and prayed the rosary. Some vowed to continue mobilizing until the bill was defeated despite the long odds.

Copyright (c) 2007 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .