Catholic World News News Feature

Polish President Signs Law Lifting Abortion Restrictions November 20, 1996

WARSAW (CWN) - Poland's ex-Communist president signed into law on Wednesday a bill that lifts the country's post-Communist pro-life law that had banned almost all abortions.

The law, passed by a majority of the ruling ex-Communist Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) over the objections of the Solidarity party and faithful Catholics, was supported from the beginning by President Aleksander Kwasniewski.

The measure allows women to kill their unborn children before the 12th week for virtually any reason after counselling and a period of reflection and also institutes sex education in schools and government-subsidized contraception.