Pope’s warning to doctors over abortion

Press, 9 June 1978, Page 6

Pope’s warning to doctors over abortion

’ i NZPA-Reuter Rome ' Pope Paul has confirmed that doctors who carry out operations under Italy’s new abortion law will face excommunication. Speaking at his mid-week I general audience, the Pope added weight to an appeal by the Vicar of Rome (Cardinal Ugo Poletti), urging doctors to refuse abortions. Cardinal Poletti, in a statement on Tuesday warned hospital staff that they faced excommunication [ if they applied the law and performed abortions. “We ask that the authoritative voice of the Vicar of i Rome be listened to by al! ,'and especially by those who profess themselves Catholics.” the Pope said. “It will be the duty of everyone to render the necessary observance to this teaching.” The 80-year-old Pope • added that Cardinal Poletti’s “teaching is grave but is ' still, and now more than ever, a teaching of love, of ! I love for human life.” I The new law, which took [effect on Tuesday, gives women the right to free II abortion virtually on demand .[in the first 90 days of pregnancy. It was passed by Par- ■ Jiament last month despite strong opposition from the [Vatican and the ruling i Christian Democratic Party, i The first abortions under > the law were performed at ‘ clinics up and down Italy, although many reported they

were too short of. beds to take in patients at present. A clause in the law allows doctors to refuse to perform abortions for reasons of conscience and many hospitals turned away prospective patients, saying their staff would not carry out the operation. A Socialist Parlia-1 mentarian has denounced Cardinal Poletti’s remarks asi j“an interference by the 1 Church in the affairs of the I State. I “Conscientious objections should not hinder or block the operation of a law of; the republic,” Mrs Maria ■ Magnani Noya said. “The State must be able to guarantee that the law can be applied in practice.”