Mexico Catholic Church tells doctors not to perform abortions under new law

By Mark Stevenson

ASSOCIATED PRESS

4:41 p.m. April 29, 2007

MEXICO CITY – The Roman Catholic Church on Sunday called on doctors in Mexico City not to perform abortions and lamented the city's decision to legalize the procedure in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The church has vowed to continue its anti-abortion campaign even through it is under investigation for possibly violating Mexican laws forbidding the church's participation in politics.

Mexico City officials have said doctors at city-run hospitals cannot refuse to perform abortions based on personal moral objection, but in a letter read at Sunday Mass, Cardinal Norberto Rivera said they could.

“We call on all of those of good conscience not to be responsible for the abominable act,” the letter stated. “We remind the doctors, nurses, health care workers and all those affected by this unjust law, that they can invoke their human right to conscientious objection.”