ParanoidAndroid Posted March 15, 2009 Group: Senior Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 39 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 591 Content Per Day: 0.09 Reputation: 14 Days Won: 0 Joined: 04/01/2007 Status: Offline Birthday: 11/27/1979 Share Posted March 15, 2009 Brazilian bishops back down over 9-year-old's abortion Updated at 9:07pm on 14 March 2009 Brazilian bishops have cancelled the excommunication of the mother and doctors of a nine-year-old girl who had an abortion after being raped. They said the decision to excommunicate was wrong and would not be applied. The National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) decided on Thursday that the child's mother acted "under pressure from the doctors" who said the girl, pregnant with twins, would die if she carried the babies to term. CNBB secretary-general Dimas Lara Barbosa told reporters the mother therefore could not be excommunicated. "We must take the circumstances into consideration," he said. As for the doctors, there was no clear case for expelling them from the church either, he said - contrary to the position taken by Archbishop Jose Cardoso Sobrinho, who announced the excommunications earlier in March. Mr Barbosa said that only doctors who "systematically" conduct abortions are thrown out of the Roman Catholic Church. Girl said she'd been abused since age of six The case of the young girl, allegedly raped by her stepfather in the state of Pernambuco, has been highly controversial in Brazil. Archbishop Sobrinho's position that the abortion was "more serious" than the rape prompted much public debate, with many denouncing his lack of compassion. Officials said the girl told them she had been abused since the age of six by her stepfather, 23, who also allegedly sexually abused the girl's physically handicapped 14-year-old sister. The man was arrested a week ago and is being kept in protective custody. Archbishop 'misinterpreted' In an effort to mitigate the archbishop's declarations, CNBB president Geraldo Lyra Rocha said his colleague had been misinterpreted. "Archbishop Sobrinho did not excommunicate anyone," he said. "I am sure he did not mean to harm anyone but rather wanted to draw attention to a certain permissiveness (over abortions)." Abortion is illegal in Brazil except in cases of rape or if the woman's health is in danger. But a million women still seek clandestine abortions in operations, and thousands die from them. SOURCE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Interesting turn of affairs... A step in the right direction, as far as this particular case is concerned. Now they just need to excommunicate the scum that raped the two girls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeilanS Posted March 15, 2009 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 158 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 1,763 Content Per Day: 0.27 Reputation: 7 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/14/2006 Status: Offline Birthday: 11/23/1990 Share Posted March 15, 2009 Interesting turn of affairs... A step in the right direction, as far as this particular case is concerned. Now they just need to excommunicate the scum that raped the two girls. Agreed. I hate abortion, but when we're talking about a girl who is almost guaranteed to be killed in childbirth and who was also raped by her stepfather... well if there is such thing as a gray area, this is it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunterpoet Posted March 15, 2009 Group: Removed from Forums for Breaking Terms of Service Followers: 0 Topic Count: 128 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 2,704 Content Per Day: 0.44 Reputation: 25 Days Won: 1 Joined: 05/29/2007 Status: Offline Birthday: 10/08/1950 Share Posted March 15, 2009 A very tragic situation indeed. Can you not find it in your heart to pray for the man's salvation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Believer1997 Posted March 15, 2009 Group: Royal Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 66 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 6,363 Content Per Day: 1.13 Reputation: 119 Days Won: 9 Joined: 11/07/2008 Status: Offline Share Posted March 15, 2009 Hunter, You ARE correct - we SHOULD pray for this man's salvation. I just have such a hard, hard time praying for someone who is so evil. I have asked God to soften my heart and help me to forgive this man and all those who hurt the innocent. I'm a work in progress.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParanoidAndroid Posted March 15, 2009 Group: Senior Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 39 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 591 Content Per Day: 0.09 Reputation: 14 Days Won: 0 Joined: 04/01/2007 Status: Offline Birthday: 11/27/1979 Author Share Posted March 15, 2009 A very tragic situation indeed. Can you not find it in your heart to pray for the man's salvation? That is a very good point indeed, Hunterpoet. It is tragic, and we really should be praying for the man's salvation. I guess it's sometimes hard to remain non-judgemental about this kind of thing. However, in saying that we should forgive him (and if I met the man I would like to think I would forgive him as Jesus would) I don't think they should simply let him go unpunished. Being forgiven does not mean a person should not face consequences for actions. In this case, the man is facing 15 years in jail, and that in itself is a consequence. However, the Catholic Church is sending a rather questionable message by not taking a stand against the actions of the man. He can still have his communion wafer in jail, and if the Catholic Church still recognises him as a member, then the impression is that God also forgives his actions. And if the man repents (ie, fully repents - not just says "sorry"), God will indeed forgive him. But as it is, he probably needs to work out his relationship with God. So he should not be considered as yet part of God's family. Hope that clarifies. You made a very good point that should be considered by all. Thanks ~ PA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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