In his speech to Congress marking the opening of this year’s legislative session, Argentine president Mauricio Macri defended his business-friendly government’s so-called “gradualist” approach to economic reforms from critics who argue he should move faster to cut government spending and lower taxes in order to boost growth and attract investment.
In an apostolic letter published on Monday, the Pope underlined that the Catholic Church needs to bring reconciliation back to “its central place in the Christian life.” The measure is said to be temporary.
Pope Francis suggested that using artificial contraception may be morally acceptable in fighting the Zika virus. But the Argentine pontiff, speaking to reporters as he flew back to Rome from an exhausting visit to Mexico, categorically ruled out abortion as a response to Zika, comparing the practice to a “Mafia” killing.
Chile, one of a handful of the world's countries that outlaws abortion in all cases, will debate a bill this year that seeks to relax the ban in certain circumstances, a government spokesman announced. President Michelle Bachelet who was re-elected and took office in March had pledged a change in the law ahead of her election.
Pope Francis, whom conservatives in the Roman Catholic Church have accused of not speaking out forcefully enough against abortion, has called the practice horrific. The pope made his toughest remarks to date on abortion in his yearly address to diplomats accredited to the Vatican, a speech known as his State of the World address.
A pregnant 11-year-old Chilean girl who was allegedly raped by her stepfather should be granted all medical options, including the right to abort, rights group Amnesty International said on Thursday. The pregnancy of 'Belen,' as she is known has sparked an outcry in one of South America’s most conservative countries, where abortion is banned under all circumstances.
A liberal abortion law in Uruguay withstood a challenge Sunday as Uruguayan opponents failed to attract enough votes in a consultation ballot to force a national referendum on repealing it.
Uruguay's Congress voted narrowly to decriminalize abortion under certain circumstances, mainly during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The Senate voted 17 to 14 in favour of the controversial bill, which was passed by the lower house last month after 14 hours of debate. President Jose Mujica said he would sign the bill into law.
Uruguay’s Lower House of parliament was discussing on Tuesday night the legalization of abortion for which the ruling coalition was counting on having the sufficient votes. If finally approved Uruguay would join Cuba, which has made abortions accessible to all women during the first trimester of pregnancy.