“We will never accept initiatives that seek to promote abortion”

The National Conference of Brazilian Bishops (CNBB) published this Thursday (14) a public note against ADPF 442, which attempts to decriminalize abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy, and was released for trial at the Federal Supreme Court (STF) . In the text, the bishops reaffirm their position contrary to the request made in the ADPF: “we will never accept any initiatives that intend to support and promote abortion”.

“A right can never be demanded at the expense of another human being, even if they are just in training. The foundation of human rights is that the human being is never taken as a means, but always as an end”, reinforce the bishops.

One of the excerpts from the document also reinforces the position of the Catholic Church “in defense of the integrity, inviolability and dignity of human life, from its conception to natural death”.

Regarding ADPF 442, the bishops point out that it is an “anti-democratic agenda” and say that the STF is “trampling” the functions of the legislature. “It’s a role that doesn’t [STF] it is appropriate, which is to legislate in the face of a supposed and non-existent omission by the National Congress”, says the document.

Finally, the bishops emphasize that “if until today abortion has not been approved as the authors of the ADPF want, it is not due to Parliament’s omission, but rather due to the absolute lack of interest of the Brazilian People, from whom all power emanates, according to the sole paragraph of art. . 1 of the Federal Constitution”.

Check out the note in full:

NOTE FROM CNBB
LIFE: INVIOLABLE RIGHT

“I proposed life and death; So choose life” (Dt 30:19).

The National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), through its Presidency, reaffirms its position in favor of life from conception.

In view of the request for inclusion in the agenda of ADPF 442 (2017), in the Federal Supreme Court (STF), which pleads the possibility of legal abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy, we reaffirm that “abortion constitutes the elimination of a human life, treats It is, therefore, an action that is intrinsically evil and, therefore, cannot be legitimized as a good or a right” (Life: Gift and Commitment II: Christian faith and abortion, Edições CNBB, 2021, n.96).

A right can never be demanded at the expense of another human being, even if it is only in training. The foundation of human rights is that the human being is never taken as a means, but always as an end. “No one can ever claim the right to choose what is most appropriate through a direct action that eliminates a human life, as no person has the right to choose the lives of others” (Life: Gift and Commitment II, n. 97 ).

“The deliberate decision to deprive an innocent human being of his life is always bad, from a moral point of view, and can never be lawful either as an end or as a means to a good end” (Evangelium Vitae, n. 57).

As we already expressed in 2017, through the Note “For life, against abortion”, we reiterate our position in defense of the integrality, inviolability and dignity of human life, from conception to natural death. We understand that the ADPF 442 requests were conducted as an anti-democratic agenda because, trampling on the National Congress, they demand from the Federal Supreme Court (STF) a function that it does not have, which is to legislate in the face of an alleged and non-existent omission by the National Congress, as it To this day, abortion has not been approved as the authors of the ADPF want, it is not due to Parliament’s omission, but due to the absolute lack of interest of the Brazilian People, from whom all power emanates, according to the sole paragraph of art. 1 of the Federal Constitution.

In any case, we will never accept any initiatives that intend to support and promote abortion.

Our Lady of Aparecida, Patroness of Brazil, help us in the mission of choosing life, as a gift from God and a commitment for all humanity.

Brasília- DF, September 13, 2023