Friday, March 30, 2007

Abortion Debate Protests Outside Polish Parliament

Some 4,000 people answering the call of the ultra-catholic station Radio Maryja have demonstrated in favor of the country’s tough anti-abortion law to be anchored in the constitution, while feminist organizations are rallying for the women’s right to have a choice.

It was last week that Polish Roman Catholic bishops backed efforts by the ultra-right catholic League of Polish Families to have the country's abortion law included in the constitution.

According to the Conference of Polish Bishops, which is the Church's ruling body in Poland, human life should be protected from conception until natural death.

According to feminist organizations those proposed changes are a threat to Polish women’s life and health and could strengthen already flourishing back street abortion industry.

Meanwhile the lower House of the Polish parliament – the Sejm has started a special three day session.

It is devoted mainly to the proposed amendment to the constitution for the protection of human life. 3 weeks ago the League of Polish Families proposed to have a "right to life from the moment of conception" written into the constitution.

As of now the League of Polish Families still needs 307 votes of its coalition partners and parliament members to pass the bill and to introduce changes into the constitution.

The draft law which needs the support of two-thirds of the 460 members of parliament to pass may be up for a vote next month.

Predominantly Catholic Poland has one of the toughest abortion rules in Europe.

Abortion is currently allowed only in cases of rape, incest, danger to the mother's life or irreversible malformation of the foetus.

Breaking the law results in a two-year jail term.

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