Brazil: Girl, 9, Has Abortion Despite Church's Objections

ABORTION A 9-year-old girl who was carrying twins, and whose stepfather is suspected of raping her, underwent an abortion on Wednesday despite complaints from Brazil's Roman Catholic Church. The stepfather has been jailed since last week, the police said. Abortion is illegal in Brazil, the country with the most Roman Catholics, but judges can make exceptions if the mother's life is in danger or the fetus has no chance of survival. Fatima Maia, director of the public university hospital where the abortion was performed, said the pregnancy, which was in its 15th week, posed a serious risk to the girl, who weighs 80 pounds. But Marcio Miranda, a lawyer for the Archdiocese of Olinda and Recife in northeastern Brazil, said the girl should have carried the twins to term and had a Caesarean section. "It's the law of God: Do not kill," he said in comments reported by the newspaper O Globo.

Comments

[Artemis34]

I hope Brazil will follow the example of Argentina and order this bishop out of the country. The people of Brazil and of the world desire better spiritual leadership than this pitiful example.

[clearlythinking]

If you read more about this you will see that the Archbishop says that while the stepfather committed a heinous crime the abortion is a more serious crime. I'm Catholic and it really angers me that this church is once again protecting a child molester. The stepfather has not been excommunicated. They kept going on about how the babies were innocents but there's no statement about how the stepfather took this girls' innocence. What about that death? This girl will live with so much pain for the rest of her life. Where's the humanity?

[ConradoCosta]

I forgot to say: the stepfather had been abusing the girl since she was 6 y.o.

[ConradoCosta]

This article is lacking a lot of impressive info on this issue:
- the stepfather has already confessed, he's 23 y.o.
- the stepfather was also abusing the 9 y.o. pregnant child's 14 y.o. handicapped sister.
- the father of the 9 y.o. actually went to the bishop to ask him to stop her from having an abortion, because he was affraid for her soul (!)
- psichologists of the church assured court justices that the child wanted to have the babies.
- the doctors who performed the abortion are active members of the Brazilian RCC, for them the excommunication is in fact a big deal.
- when asked about the position of the church towards the rappist stepfather, the bishop said his offense is a minor one compared to the abortion.
Poor RCC, so close to the Vatican so far from Jesus.

[koollakat]

Does the Archbishop in Olinda understand how dangerous it is for a 9 year old girl to be pregnant, especially one carrying twins? Unbelievable the RCC thinks the stepfather's crime is minor compared to the 9 year victim whose health is in jeopardy from the pregnancy for having an abortion.

I have not been a practicing Catholic in over 30 years and this sad episode just reinforces my decision. I have no regrets and absolutely no respect for the RCC.

[chayefsky]

Does anyone----ANYone doubt the misogyny of the Catholic church after reading this? It isn't enough that this baby was violated in a way that no man can or ever will understand, but she was told by her priests, so-called men of God she had been taught to trust and believe, that her life, her pain, her lost innocence, her anguish mean NOTHING in the eyes of God! I call on women everywhere to reject religion completely. Religions are men's creations and are not now, nor have they ever been places of refuge, enlightenment, compassion, equality, solace or understanding for any woman or girl.

[Vanska]

Thank you! ...The real point is why would anyone allow someone who believes in a 'god' in the first place to dictate anything in their lives. They're ALL nuts. What is this, the dark ages? Are we still really believing a bunch of crazy people from over 2000 years ago? These are the same types of people who would have you killed for stating that the earth was round. The bible is a story people!!! I'm not sure that when it was written (not by one person but by many and re-interpreted to death) anyone ever really thought people would take it literally. I understand why some people seem to need religion, (It sure would be nice if we could all give up responsibility for our lives and make someone else the scapegoat) and I try to be understanding but really, I mentally shake my head and feel sorry for them. Take responsibility for your own lives, people.

[DoctorWhoDat]

If men could get pregnant, then Abortion would be a Sacrament

[USA2Sense]

AMEN!

[sumanne]

This is so sad...

I just hope the mother and doctor of the child manage to get over the superstition and lead a life thats free of socalled "christians ethics".

George Carlin has said everything there is to say about religion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o

[kay mill]

Where is the outrage and protest for this nine-year-old girl who was raped by her stepfather (a stepfather who may have gone on to abuse the twin children had they been born) ?

The Catholic Church continues to lose all credibility every time it does or endorse thing that defies not only human decency, but is just the principles of Christianity.

[kellygrrrl]

Sorry Children! NeoChristos only love you until you're born.

[kellygrrrl]

Church has completely lost sight of Jesus Christ

[Lolotehe]

What would have been the outcome if she had tried to carry to term?
Broken bones, severe anemia, maybe malnourishment? Would a pregnancy like this on a 80 pound frame break the ribs or suffocate the mother?
Does Marcio Miranda have daughters?
Does the church actually care about people at all?

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

The RCC's ideology is the reason I convinced my best friend to change hospitals during her high risk pregnancy. She had two children at home and had no idea that if things went wrong the doctors at the Catholic owned hospital would save the baby even if it meant she would die and leave three children orphaned.

[brooklyncitizen]

Well as a Catholic and Christian all I can say is that the Church gets so much repeatedly wrong and this is yet another example. At this point their dictums are simply ridiculous opinions. A test of maturity for any man or woman is to make their own decisions especially on matters so closely impacting their life.When a 9 year old child cannot defend herself then adults around her must come to her aide.

Maybe when the church starts allowing women to become priests and ends the the scandalous treatment of the thousands of elderly nuns that have given their lives to the Church but are now destitute and living in poverty with no means of support (how an you save for retirement on $25.00/month?) then we can take the Church seriously again.

[roshni]

I know Sarah Palin would disagree with this outcome.
It is the only civilized outcome given the brutality of the situation.
Obviously this church, such as it is, does not care about the welfare of the girl.

[jerryfromcalifornia]

Not just Sarah, How about focus on the family, and the rest of the religi ous right, such as bro wnback, san*torum, vitt*er and such.

[dizzypdx]

I don't think Sarah Palin would oppose the outcome. If she was 15 or 16, Palin would probably oppose the abortion, but the girl is 9. Palin has daughters of her own. I think most people with daughters would support this, even if they are pro-life. Especially since the pregnancy was obviously a death sentence.

[Cinnamonape]

To be fair Palin promoted a law that allowed abortion, and in the cases of rape and incest. But on the flip side...those were the ONLY exceptions. The previous law was based on Roe v. Wade.

[FR]

Dear Marcio Miranda, Esq (and I'm being generous because his behavior is sub-human):
It's most certainly NOT the law of God that a stepfather can rape a nine-year-old girl.
If the church could not stop that it has no business stopping or judging the abortion.

[chayefsky]

Well said.