As the deputies and senators of France approved on 4 March by 780 votes in favor and 72 against, to include the “right” to abortion in their Constitution, the maximum possible legal protection of a norm, the Vatican condemns this matter.
With this, France became the first country in the world to make this decision.
In a statement published on 4 March, the Pontifical Academy for Life recalled that “precisely in the era of universal human rights, there can be no ‘right’ to suppress human life.”
The bishops of France had encouraged the faithful to join, this Monday, the call for fasting and prayer of various Catholic associations in this scenario, remembering that “of all the European countries, even Western Europe, France is the only one where the “The number of abortions does not decrease and has even increased in the last two years.”
In a statement from November 2023, the French bishops recalled that “the biblical commandment ‘Thou shalt not kill’ inscribed in all consciences, beyond that of believers, means that each human being is entrusted to the care of others. We must not weaken the strength of that reference point. In a way, we are all responsible for these unborn children.”
“Thus, true progress involves the mobilization of everyone, believers and non-believers, so that the reception of life is better helped and supported,” they added then.
“It is necessary to continue promoting and guaranteeing women’s rights. Real equality of remuneration, protection against violence in the social life and intimacy of families, and social support for their role in the education of children, especially single women, are very desirable advances for our societies. Is it legitimate to put abortion on the same level as these fundamental rights? Including it among the fundamental rights would be to damage its entire balance,” they highlighted.