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Church in the WorldCity relaxes its abortion lawsMexico Thomas Norton - 24 March 2007Church leaders in Mexico have condemned the relaxation of anti-abortion legislation in the country's capital, Mexico City, writes Thomas Norton. The bill to legalise abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy is expected to be passed by the assembly that controls the federal district of Mexico City. Abortion is illegal in the rest of Mexico except in cases of rape, although in Mexico City, home to nine million people, it is permitted in cases where the mother's life is in danger. The Bishops' Conference of Mexico condemned the legislation as the beginning of a "programme of extermination" and called on legislators to "reaffirm their commitment to life", in a statement released on 15 March. The leader of the assembly, Victor Hugo Cirigo, whose left-leaning Partido de la Revolucion Democratica holds 34 out of 66 seats on the assembly, was quoted as saying: "No church, no religion can impose its vision of the world in this city." It is not the first time that the city's lawmakers have clashed with the Church. In December the assembly passed a bill allowing civil unions, and the country's first same-sex partnerships were registered this week. |
 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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