Monday, November 05, 2012

Bishops in excommunication row

The Bishops' Conference of Uruguay has acted to correct reports that lawmakers who voted in favour of the decriminalisation of abortion in the first trimester were automatically excommunicated.

The press had misconstrued comments by Bishop Heriberto Bodeant, secretary general of the conference, that anyone who is directly involved in abortion would incur a latae sententiae excommunication, the bishops explained in a statement.

Bishop Bodeant subsequently said in a radio interview: "Excommunication applies to Catholics who have acted directly in carrying out an abortion, which does not include those who vote for a law that allows it."

President José Mujica on Monday signed the bill passed by the Senate on 17 October.