Vatican changes transcript of abortion remarks

Opposing reports on abortion stance
Lombardi was asked again Thursday whether the church intends to use the threat of excommunication against politicians who are thinking of legalizing abortion. “The pope has said every one of us has a Christian attitude and must have a Christian behavior, coherent with his faith and vision of life. When this is not the case, then comes the problem of the true participation in the life of the church and also in the Eucharist,” he said.

“This is the question. Are we coherent with our Christian vision? If yes, we can participate. If no, there is a problem.”

The flurry of papal statements and revisions left many puzzled. Some newspapers in Brazil and Mexico declared Benedict approves of excommunication for politicians who support abortion rights, while others said exactly the opposite — that he had ruled it out.

The controversy didn’t help persuade some of the Brazilians waiting for a glimpse of the pope.

“I’m totally against his stance on abortion. I have two daughters and we know how Sao Paulo is. If something happened to them, and they were raped, I would never let them have a baby that way,” said Roberto Tavares, a retired airline pilot. Still, “it’s very important he came to visit us in Brazil, even if we don’t agree with all of his views.”

Against legal abortions in the region
Benedict is determined to prevent legal abortions from expanding in Latin America. In his first speech in Brazil, he expressed confidence that Latin America’s Catholic leaders will take a strong anti-abortion stand at their bishops’ conference next week, reinforcing “respect for life from the moment of conception until natural death as an integral requirement of human nature.”

Some 41,000 people were invited to Thursday’s stadium rally, and at least 100,000 more were expected outside. Many of these Catholics share the pope’s views — polls show that Brazilians are overwhelmingly against expanding access to abortion beyond current law, which allows it in cases of rape or when the mother’s life is in danger.

Abortion did not come up in Benedict’s meeting Thursday with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lombardi said. But one of the president’s Cabinet members complained beforehand that a “macho” culture in Brazil has prevented a legitimate debate about legalizing abortion in Latin America’s largest nation.

“If men got pregnant, I’m sure this question would have been resolved a long time ago,” said Health Minister Jose Gomes Temporao, who is pushing for a referendum on the issue.

While Silva said he’s personally opposed to abortion, he said it’s an issue for his government because many Brazilian women die from illegal abortions, highlighting the divide among those torn between the church’s traditional teachings and the pressures of the modern world.

MORE FROM AMERICAS

Americas Section Front

Man gets 25 years in wife's scuba slaying   Mexico drug war ensnares Catholic church 10,000 Salvador flood victims need food Brazil college reverses mini-dress expulsion Canadian teen rescued on Arctic ice Colombia turns to U.N. after Chavez war talk Americas Section Front   Add Americas headlines to your news reader: