French bishops decry bill that would squelch pro-life websites
December 01, 2016
Archbishop Georges Pontier of Marseille, the president of the Bishops’ Conference of France, has criticized President François Hollande for his support of a bill that would criminalize websites that “exert psychological or moral pressure to dissuade from recourse to abortion.”
In a letter to Hollande, the prelate pointed out that women who have had an abortion and regretted their decision would no longer be able to express their misgivings.
“This bill calls into question the foundations of our freedoms and most particularly the freedom of expression,” Archbishop Pontier added. “This seems to me to be a very serious attack on the principles of democracy.”
On December 1, the Vatican newspaper published a front-page essay supporting Archbishop Pontier’s letter.
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Further information:
- Délit d’entrave numérique à l’IVG : Lettre de Mgr Pontier au Président Hollande (CEF)
- L’aborto nella società di oggi. Una questione sempre aperta (L’Osservatore Romano, p. 1)
- France Threatens Pro-Life Free Speech: Bans Pro-Life Video and Shuts Down Pro-Life Web Sites (LifeNews.com)
- French cardinal raps government’s ‘obsession’ with abortion (CWN, 11/28)
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Posted by: Bveritas2322 -
Dec. 02, 2016 10:37 PM ET USA
“This seems to me to be a very serious attack on the principles of democracy.” Merely "seems" to be? Well there was at least this wimpy response. But I hope Francis doesn't attack the bishop for being too "rigid."
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Posted by: jalsardl5053 -
Dec. 01, 2016 6:45 PM ET USA
It's beyond an attack on the principles of democracy. It is a direct attack on women depriving them of any opportunity to explore all options before making the most critical decision ever. The Archbishop was too limited in spelling out the consequences. No wonder France almost rolled over under Hitler; turns out not really a very different mindset; at least in certain ideological aspects.
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Posted by: feedback -
Dec. 01, 2016 8:13 AM ET USA
Every person with a conscience, who had been involved in the sin of abortion, eventually profoundly regrets the decision. This dark part of the reality of "women's reproductive rights" is always being very scrupulously concealed by the advocates of abortion.
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Dec. 01, 2016 8:01 AM ET USA
Liberty, equality, fraternity. "This seems to me to be a very serious attack on the principles of democracy." Democracy represents the unbridled will of the majority. This is why the U.S. is not a democracy, but a better form of government--a republic. Ours is theoretically based on the _methods_ of democracy. When functioning in accordance with the principles of justice, a republic can not only rightly serve the will of the electorate, but can set an example for other governments to follow.
