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Brazil Prez Flouts Church, Backs Abortion Docs

Girl has popular support

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 11, 2009 12:53 PM CDT

(Newser) – Brazil’s president today attacked the archbishop who excommunicated the doctors who performed an abortion on a 9-year-old rape victim. The girl had allegedly been impregnated with twins by her stepfather, who was not disciplined when Jose Cardoso Sobrinho excommunicated the girl’s mother and her doctors. “In this case, medicine is more right than the Church,” said President Luiz Inacio da Silva.

Sobrinho defended his actions, saying he hadn’t excommunicated the stepfather because “a graver act than (rape) is abortion, to eliminate an innocent life.” The Vatican backed his decision, and one cardinal said the unborn twins were innocent. But an outraged public has largely sided with the “sinners,” CNN reports. One of the doctors got a standing ovation today at a women’s health conference.

Father Jose Cardoso Sobrinho, archbishop for Olinda and Recife (northeastern Brazil) speaks with journalists in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil March 6, 2009.
Father Jose Cardoso Sobrinho, archbishop for Olinda and Recife (northeastern Brazil) speaks with journalists in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil March 6, 2009.   (AFP/Getty Images)
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivers a speech during a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, unseen, in Sao Paulo, Monday, March 2, 2009.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivers a speech during a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, unseen, in Sao Paulo, Monday, March 2, 2009.   (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Brazil?s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during the opening ceremony of the International Seminar on Development in Brasilia, Thursday, March 5, 2009.
Brazil?s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during the opening ceremony of the International Seminar on Development in Brasilia, Thursday, March 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Doctor-Zaius
Mar 11, 2009 10:24 PM CDT
Once again the Church demonstrates a strong pro child-rape stance.
Guest
Mar 11, 2009 9:25 PM CDT
Standing up to the Church in Latin America? Wow! There is hope :-)
Forderon
Mar 11, 2009 4:36 AM CDT
Hopeless.

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