News

Colombian high court rules Catholic hospitals must provide abortions October 28, 2009

Claiming that mothers “enjoy a right to decide, free from any pressure, coercion, urging, manipulation and, in general, any sort of inadmissible intervention, to terminate a pregnancy” when abortion is permitted by law, the Colombian Constitutional Court has ruled that all hospitals, whether secular or religious, must retain doctors who are willing to perform abortions. The court also ruled that Catholic schools must educate students about their “abortion rights”-- a ruling that Catholic officials vowed to disobey.

Following a request from the nation’s pro-life inspector general, the Council of State has temporarily put the ruling on hold.

Since 2006, abortion has been legal in Colombia in the cases of rape, incest, certain birth defects, and threats to the mother’s life or health.

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• Center Praises Momentous Decision in Abortion Case in Colombia (Center for Reproductive Rights)
• Catholic officials protest court ruling to teach about abortion rights (CNS)
• Colombia's Council of State suspends regulations permitting abortion (CNA)
• Abortion under attack (Colombia Reports)
• State Council suspends abortion decree (Colombia Reports)

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• Posted by: DrJazz - Oct. 29, 2009 11:43 AM ET USA

  No, don't close all the Catholic hospitals there. Continue to provide proper care without violating Church teaching. If the government wants to close all the Catholic hospitals and/or arrest all the Catholic doctors and nurses, let them come and do it -- and let the whole world see it. Why do their dirty work for them? Bear witness to the faith by doing what is good and right, not by closing up shop and hiding. And yes, we will soon be facing the same fate here in the US. Get ready!

• Posted by: peggyann - Oct. 29, 2009 6:25 AM ET USA

  I believe that, unfortunately for the State, and others, those Catholics and all who want to be brought to sainthood, have no choice but to disobey the law. We are being tested and we must pray for our sisters and brothers in Columbia. We will soon be facing the same fate. Let us all pray to be given the grace and courage to stand on the side of the anges.

• Posted by: pwrosey2737 - Oct. 28, 2009 11:07 PM ET USA

  After our naive USCCB and too many of our inidividual bishops get their way and have government-run health care, by whatever name, they can look forward to our Supreme Court doing the same things to us. The USCCB is a disgrace to Catholicism. Paul Rosenthal, Augusta, GA

• Posted by: rpp - Oct. 28, 2009 9:28 PM ET USA

  I will be very interested in how the Colombian Bishops Council reacts should this ruling be upheld and implemented.

• Posted by: hartwood - Oct. 28, 2009 1:19 PM ET USA

  no recourse but to close all Catholic hospitals there,what a travesty!