Church in the World

Abortion key issue in bid to oust Lula

Brazil

Pro-life groups, backed by the National Bishops' Conference, CNBB, are seeking to make abortion a decisive issue when Brazilian voters decide on 1 October whether to give President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva a second term.

In mid-September, the National Campaign for Life - Brazil Without Abortion organisation began to post the names of candidates opposed to the legalisation of abortion on its website (brasilsemaborto.com.br), and urged voters to make this, rather than party affiliation, one of the key issues when making up their minds how to cast their ballots. Candidates opposed to abortion are being urged to sign a public declaration, committing themselves to working for the cause if they are elected.

Lula's left-wing Government has set up a Special Secretariat for Women, to draft proposals for relaxing the present ban on abortion. But the issue cuts across party boundaries. Last year, a coalition of MPs formed a Parliamentary Front for the Defence of Life, led by a member of Lula's own Workers' Party (PT), federal deputy Luís Bassuma of Bahia, and managed, by one vote, to block a government-sponsored measure that would have decriminalised abortion in some cases.

The Church has thrown its support behind these initiatives, under the campaign slogan "For a Parliament in Defence of Life". The auxiliary Bishop of Rio, Dom Dimas Lara Barbosa, is acting as its main spokesman. On 11 September, the Rio de Janeiro archdiocese ordered publicity material to be distributed in its 200-odd parishes, urging Catholics not to vote for candidates who support the legalisation of abortion. The campaign is also organising meetings at which candidates are invited to explain where they stand on such issues as stem-cell research, contraception and euthanasia. "If they have no objection, we'll publicise their replies among the faithful. It's a way of pressing politicians to come out in favour of life and against death," according to the Bishop of Jundiaí, Dom Gil Antônio Moreira. "When it comes to defending life, you can't just sit on the fence," Dom Dimas told an interviewer recently.

According to the pro-life campaign's Rio coordinator, Rodrigo Martins, "Ninety per cent of Brazilians are against abortion, but more than 50 per cent of MPs are in favour." The campaign is particularly targeting a Senate candidate from the Communist Party of Brazil (PC do B), Jandira Feghali, whom Mr Martins regards as the chief organiser of the legalisation lobby. She says she is merely advocating an informed debate on the subject.

The anti-abortion campaign is unlikely to deny Lula a second victory: he is well ahead of his rivals in the opinion polls. But it could have an impact on his majority in Parliament, and make it difficult to pass changes to the law during his second term.