What Church teaches is the truth

Uruguay bishops say lawmakers who support abortion are excommunicated

A woman prays as Uruguayan senators debate a bill to legalize abortion in Montevideo Oct. 17. Senators voted 17-14 in favour of a bill to legalize all first-trimester abortions. CNS photo / Andres Stapff, Reuters.

This Catholic News Agency story reports that Uruguay's bishops have said local lawmakers who recently voted to legalize abortion in the country are automatically excommunicated, for separating themselves from the Church's teaching.

"Automatic excommunication is for those who collaborate in the execution of an abortion in a direct way," said Bishop Heriberto Bodeant, secretary of the Uruguayan bishops' conference.

If the new law is signed by President Jose Mujica, who has vowed support for the measure, the Church will strengthen its work in support of human life to "reinvigorate the law written in the heart of every person that says that a fundamental value exists, which is life."

For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.