Brazilian president blasts archbishop over abortion excommunications

March 11, 2009

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has blasted Archbishop José Cardoso Sobrinho of Olinda and Recife following the excommunications of those complicit in the abortion of the unborn twins of a 9-year-old girl who had reportedly been raped by her stepfather. “As a Christian and a Catholic, I find it deeply lamentable that a bishop of the Catholic Church has such a conservative attitude,” the president said. “In this case, the medical profession was more right than the Church.” Media reports on the subject have typically failed to note that abortion carries an automatic excommunication under canon law.

 

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Further information:

• Excommunicated doctor hailed for abortion on child rape victim (CNN)
• Cardinal Re defends Brazil abortion excommunications (CWN)