Mexico Poll Shows People Split on Abortion as 35K Abortions Done in Mexico City

International   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Feb 22, 2010   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Mexico Poll Shows People Split on Abortion as 35K Abortions Done in Mexico City

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 22
, 2010

Mexico City, Mexico (LifeNews.com) — new poll of residents of Mexico finds them split on abortion while a new report from the Mexico City government finds there have been 34,660 abortions done in the first two-and-a-half years since the nation’s capital city legalized abortion.

Consulta Mitofsky conducted the survey, which asks a poorly-worded question about abortion — which is allowed in Mexico City but prohibited in the rest of the country.

The survey found 48.8 percent of Mexicans "agree with allowing women to have an abortion if they so desire" while 45.3 percent disagree and 5.9 percent are unsure.

But the polling question didn’t ask when Mexicans thought abortion should be allowed — as most Mexicans are pro-life would likely oppose most abortions except those in rare circumstances.

Asked if "abortion should be considered a crime," 41.1 percent said yes while 45.7 percent of Mexicans said no. Another 13.2 percent were unsure.

The question is again misleading because the question doesn’t say who should be punished and most pro-life advocates say abortion practitioners, and not women, should be held accountable for abortions in cases where they are illegal.

Meanwhile, the Mexico City government released a new report indicating about 70 percent of women who inquire about an abortion eventually have one.

The numbers, according to CNA, show 68 percent of women, or 34,660, had an abortion before 12 weeks of pregnancy as allowed under the Mexico City law. Another 32 percent, 16,276, decided against having an abortion.

The Beatriz Velasco de Aleman Clinic and the Ticoman General Hospital have reportedly become the two main hospitals in Mexico City where abortions are done.

CNA indicates the city’s report described abortion as a "plague" on the city and that it as delivered to the Legislative Assembly’s Commission on Health.

Following passage of the law, the Mexico Supreme Court, in August 2008, upheld the legislation — but that has led to 17 Mexican states passing laws or state constitutional amendments affirming their abortion bans or noting the unborn child’s right to life.

The pro-life groups and Catholic leaders in Mexico hope the action in the state legislatures will prompt the Mexico Congress to consider an amendment to the national constitution that would trump the Mexico City law.

Related web sites:
Comite Nacional Pro Vida – https://www.comiteprovida.org

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