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Sri Lankan bishop condemns media attacks on abortion stance

Anyone is free to accept or reject the teaching, but no one can cast aspersions on the teachers or writers
Sri Lankan bishop condemns media attacks on abortion stance

A file image of an Indian activist holding a model of a fetus during a protest against abortion in New Delhi. In Sri Lanka, Catholic bishops have condemned the government for making moves to allow abortion in more circumstances. (Photo by Chandan Khanna/AFP)

Published: October 13, 2017 04:22 AM GMT
Updated: October 13, 2017 04:22 AM GMT

Bishop Winston S. Fernando, president of the Sri Lankan Catholic Bishops' Conference, has called on local media not to attack church leaders over their anti-abortion stance.

The bishop said that media freedom does not constitute a right to target religious leaders.

A Sept. 3 article in the Ravaya newspaper for example suggested that "minority" priests and Catholics in Sri Lanka were trying to impose their own views on society.

The article questioned whether abortion policy in Sri Lanka should be formulated according to the wishes of the Catholic Church.

"We can't accept either condemnation of the Catholic teaching on morality or any personal attacks, insults or disrespectful remarks of the authorized teachers of the Catholic Church," said Bishop Fernando in an Oct. 6 statement.

"The Catholic Church has the mandate and the right to teach whether the faithful or other people accept the teaching or not," said Bishop Fernando.

"Anyone is free to accept or reject the teaching, but no one can cast aspersions on the teachers or writers."

Church leaders in Sri Lanka have condemned a government decision to allow abortion in a broader range of circumstances.

Currently, abortion is illegal except when it is needed to save the life of the mother.

However, the country's cabinet approved legislation to be presented to parliament which would legalize abortion when a pregnancy is due to rape or if a fetus is diagnosed with a 'lethal' congenital malformation. 

According to media reports, 10 to 12 percent of maternal deaths are due to excessive bleeding and infections after unsafe and illegal abortions.

An estimated 650 illegal abortions take place in Sri Lanka every day.

Church groups organize programs to increase awareness and prevent abortions.

Opponents of the Catholic Church say it does not take sufficient account of maternal rights, particularly in cases of rape or if a fetus is abnormal.

The Catholic Church's stance is based on the belief that life begins at conception.

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