The South American nation of Argentina could be the next Christian-majority country to legalize abortion. On August 8, the Argentinian Senate will vote on whether to legalize abortion nationwide by stripping the unborn of their constitutional right to protection.
Earlier this month, the lower chamber voted 129-123 to legalize abortions up to the 14th week of pregnancy, and also passed provisions for late-term abortions in cases of fetal deformity or to protect mothers’ “psychological” health.
“It was a long night for those of us who were in the plaza, we did not sleep at all – old women, young women, forming a green tide,” said Julieta Ortega, a prominent member of the Argentinian Actresses Collective, following the vote. “Today we are a fairer country. We are very happy for us and for the young girls of today who will become the women of the future,” she said.
Thank you @LiveAction and @LilaGraceRose! This was drawn in my country, Argentina, where we are fighting against an abortion bill that's being discussed in our Congress. Please support us!!! #ArgentinaIsProlife #ArgentinaEsProvida #NoToAbortionInArgentina #NoAlAbortoEnArgentina
— Virginia L. ? (@virlight) June 28, 2018
Now, the activists are demanding a radical constitutional overhaul of abortion law in the traditionally Catholic nation — according to 2014 survey, 92 percent of the country is nominally Roman Catholic, but less than 20 percent practice their faith regularly.
“We demand action without delay in the Senate and that they [respect] the law to the letter by which it passed in the Lower House, and that a date for which the bill will be voted is agreed upon in the next parliamentary meeting,” the National Campaign for the Right to Legal, Safe, and Free Abortion said in a statement, according to LifeSite News.
@ladygaga Give us a hand please! Twit @gabimichetti the vicepresident of Argentina and help us in the campaign for depenalization of abortion pic.twitter.com/HvD2j78gQA
— Silvia Cryan (@CassandraBlck) June 25, 2018
Though the controversial legislation is not expected to get through the Senate, President Mauricio Macri has said he will not veto the bill if it reaches his desk, despite claiming to be pro-life. Both Amnesty International and the World Bank have voiced their support for the proposed change. The World Bank, which openly favors free and unlimited access to abortion, has loaned the nation millions of dollars over the years.
(H/T: LifeSite News)