Spain Government’s Move to Expand Abortions Draws Plurality Opposition in Poll
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 12, 2009
Madrid, Spain (LifeNews.com) — A move by the government of Spain to expand abortions is drawing the opposition of a plurality of voters, according to a new poll conducted by Instituto Noxa and published in La Vanguardia newspaper. The poll found 44 percent of Spanish citizens support expanding abortions while 46 percent oppose the move.
Under existing legislation introduced in 1985, women in Spain can get an abortion in cases of rape, when the unborn child developmental problems, and if there is a supposed mental health risk for the mother.
The last reason has been exploited to essentially allow abortion on demand.
However, the Spanish government, headed by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of the Socialist Worker’s Party, has proposed legalizing all abortions for any woman over the age of 16 to have an abortion on demand in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy and the first 22 weeks if the baby has developmental issues.
The new law would also allow minors to obtain an abortion without parental involvement.
Dr. Esteban Rodriguez, spokesman for the pro-life Spanish organization Derecho a Vivir (Right to Life), talked recently about the proposal.
He said the new law from the Zapatero government would result in doctors being jailed for declining to perform abortions.
Rodriguez also said it would "make Spain the European country with the least protection for the unborn and pregnant women" and would "[deny] women information on the nature of abortion and [leave] the unborn totally unprotected."
Pro-life Spanish groups, as well as pro-life Spanish doctors who do not want to be forced to perform abortions against their religious objections or face jail time, are holding a march on October 17 to protest Zapatero’s efforts.
Meanwhile, Lindsey Douthit of the pro-life group Concerned Women for America, writes about a protest pro-life advocates will have of Zapatero this week.
"Like millions of Americans, many Spaniards maintain a passionate commitment to family and a determination to protect those most vulnerable in society. In correlation to strong religious convictions, another characteristic shared by many in both American and Spanish cultures, many also share a burden to defend the unborn," she writes.
"We also share a daily experience of aggressive attacks on pro-life stances and religious liberty," she said.
"Since the election of Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spain has seen an assault on protections for the unborn. Zapatero is currently backing a bill that will further liberalize Spain’s abortion laws," Douthit continued.
"To show solidarity with our Spanish brothers and sisters, Concerned Women for America and other pro-life groups such as the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, Christendom College, Human Life International, Christian Defense Coalition and others will meet on October 13 to protest Zapatero during his visit to the White House," she indicated.
Pictures of Americans protesting Zapatero’s visit will be sent to Spanish pro-life groups to encourage Spanish pro-lifers before their march.
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