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Church in the World‘Anonymous birthing’ could save babiesBrazil Jonathan Stibbs - 24 May 2008A proposal has been made to allow "anonymous birthing" in Brazil, in a bid to cut down the number of abortions and abandoned children, writes Jonathan Stibbs. The proposal by Eduardo Valverde, a representative of the Workers' Party, would allow free access to prenatal medical care from the public health service for pregnant women who do not want to have children. "With her identity kept secret and a fictitious name, the woman would be able to give birth with all of the necessary healthcare conditions," Mr Valverde said. Under the scheme, the anonymous women would be free of any legal responsibilities for their children and hospitals would administer a fast-track adoption process. The proposal follows a defeat for a bill to decriminalise abortion, which was rejected on 7 May by 33 votes to zero. The proposed law was supported by the minister for health, José Gomes Temporão, who tried to make the issue one of public health. Sixty-eight per cent of Brazilians oppose any change to the law, according to a recent poll. But for every 10 women giving birth three to four terminate their pregnancy, according to International Family Planning Perspectives of New York. |
 In this week’s issueMaking markets moral Iron and velvet Love in a Catholic climate Someone to talk to A good Lent takes planning South American surprise Can the Church support abuse victims on its own terms? Elena Curti Is the Church too slow in recognising that academies are the future for Catholic schools? Christopher Lamb Goodwin the scapegoat Elena Curti The pain of being a coeliac Catholic Sr M, guest contributor The Church's moral obligation to victims of clerical sexual abuse Speeches from this week's conference in Rome This week in Rome bishops and religious superiors met at the first Vatican-backed symposium devoted to forging a global response to the crisis of clerical sexual abuse that has disgraced ... Archbishop voices 'shame and sorrow' after priest's abuse trial Longley to visit parishes 'damaged' by Walsh Today, Tuesday 7 February, Bede Walsh, who served as a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, has been convicted by a jury, following a 10-day trial at Stoke-on-Trent ...
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