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Catholic Church Excommunicates Doctors Who Helped 9-Year-Old Rape Victim


World  (tags: 'HUMANRIGHTS!', catholic church, brazil, child safety, doctors, ethics, humans, society, religious intimidation )

Kit
- 298 days ago - alternet.org
This is probably the most repugnant thing you'll read in a while.
Comments

Kit B. (185)
Friday March 6, 2009, 7:24 am

Here’s the most repugnant thing you’ll read all day, week, month, or ever ...



A 9-year-old girl in Brazil was impregnated with twins after being repeatedly raped by her stepfather. Doctors decided the child’s uterus was too small to safely carry a baby, let alone two, and with the mother’s permission performed an abortion. The Catholic Church not only tried to stop the procedure, but announced today that all the adults involved in terminating the pregnancy will be excommunicated from the Church -- including the doctors and the girl's mother.



So far Church officials have been silent on what judgment they plan to mete out to the man who impregnated a small child.



From the BBC:











The Archbishop of Olinda and Recife, Jose Cardoso Sobrinho, told Brazil's TV Globo that the law of God was above any human law.





He said the excommunication would not apply to the child because of her age, but would affect all those who ensured the abortion was carried out.





...





While the action of the Church in opposing an abortion for a young rape victim is not unprecedented, it has attracted criticism from women's rights groups in Brazil.




 

Past Member (0)
Friday March 6, 2009, 8:48 am
The Catholic Church isn't simply excommunicating these people with a conscience, it's liberating them. Let's not forget that pope rotteiller entered American politics with his threat to excommunicate John Kerry for his stand on a woman's right to choose. Rottweiller doesn't speak for the creator, no one does. That's why we have a conscience and know right from wrong. It doesn't take a genius to know that a raped 9 year old shouldn't have twins for Christ's sake, it's simply wrong.
 

Michael Angel (58)
Friday March 6, 2009, 8:52 am
Peddlers of death
http://www.condomman.com/articles/condom-use/catholic-church-condom-ban-in-latin-america/

In reference to the difficult situation faced by couples where in one partner is HIV positive, he stated flatly, "Even in the case of discordant couples [where one spouse is infected], those offering care should look at all the issues affecting the couple other than the sexual aspect. One of them will have to sacrifice for the sake of the other."
http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/topics/hivaids/bishopsopposecondoms.asp

In some cases, he and other theologians argue, a woman is justified in protecting her life by using a condom if she must have sex with a man who is infected with HIV, the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

For example, Johnstone noted, in some societies it is almost impossible for a woman to refuse sex with her husband. If he is infected, she has the absolute right to protect herself by demanding he wear a condom.
http://www.religiousconsultation.org/News_Tracker/condom_ban_divides_Catholic_clergy.htm

http://www.religiousconsultation.org/News_Tracker/condom_ban_divides_Catholic_clergy.htm

I was raised a catholic and this sickens me. They are no better than historical mass murders like Hitler and Pol Pot

 

Kit B. (185)
Friday March 6, 2009, 9:06 am
There must be a point when religion must support first the rights of the living. That the man who RAPED this child was not ex-communicated, but those who in all good conscience were acting for the life of this same child, were ex-communicated, speaks volumes to where this church and often too many churches, stand on human compassion.

Though I completely agree with the statement that all women should have a right to 1) refuse sex - and not be raped (even by a husband) 2) always have a right to use of condoms and birth control, I really don't see that happening any time soon. The cultures that Michael Angel addresses will not allow women these simple basic human rights. And of course, we know that in far too many countries rape is used as weapon of war.
 

Christy V. (36)
Friday March 6, 2009, 9:31 am
In the end they are creating a situation where they won't survive as a culture as there will not be enough women left to procreate.
 

Christy V. (36)
Friday March 6, 2009, 9:32 am
Yes Kit since in their culture it is the ultimate dishonor and those women become homeless if not killed by their own families.
 

Suzanne O. (30)
Friday March 6, 2009, 9:50 am
It is just sick. Every person and situation should be determined based on circumstance not just generalized. These poor people are being victimized again.
 

Jim Phillips (2584)
Friday March 6, 2009, 10:42 am
Nothing in the article said anything about the stepfather, who tried to escape to another region, if he was to be charged with rape or if he was also to be excommunicated.

Once again, the Church needs to stay out of a woman's womb; They have no business in there.

TY, Kit.

 

Christy V. (36)
Friday March 6, 2009, 11:30 am
Another reason the Catholic Church is becoming marginalized and rightfully so when the head of their church basically requires a child die to save a fetus(s).
 

Past Member (0)
Friday March 6, 2009, 2:33 pm
Why does the Catholic Church think they have the right to give themselves the right to pass judgement on people? They are not God, and should stop acting like they are, We have already experienced their weaknesses with what THEY have done to little children. Why would anyone think they would have any more compassion for a raped little 9-year-old girl? What hypocrites!
 

Past Member (0)
Friday March 6, 2009, 2:40 pm
One friend told me that the reason the Catholic Church is so anti birth control is because the more little Catholics running around, the more money for the Vatican. In the case of the little raped girl, the trade off was one mother's life for two future parishiners with 20% of income vs. only 10% for the mother.
 

Gillian M No post please (114)
Friday March 6, 2009, 4:02 pm
The Catholic church has put itself above God by making such judgements and such statements. Such a law is for men, their rights and their children and this is NOT the word of God!

Jesus was a Jew who preached Judaism. Judaism states that the life of the living is more important than that of the unborn or the dead. After all, in the time that these laws came into being, the baby could not survive without the mother and, even now if born too early, may not live or may be damaged. Therefore, to save the little girl's life an abortion would be required. No man may put aside or ignore God's laws, which is what is happening here.
 

sue w. (153)
Friday March 6, 2009, 4:07 pm
Yeah, this God only thinks and cares about the unborn dollars!
This is great actually, a very good article. Here we see the demise of the Catholic Church by their own doing.
Vaughn is right liberation here and good for them! The Hippocratic oath and conscious are actually more powerful than the church!
Now that is what I call the greatest good for all!
 

John Buddeke (36)
Friday March 6, 2009, 4:10 pm
Can't say that I'm all that surprised by the Catholic Church's actions. Nor are they the only Church to dispaly such repugnant behavior. A friend of a friend was an elder with Jehovah Witnesses. Part of his role was "counseling" teenage girls who had become pregnant. As you may know, according to their church doctrine, all and any sexual relations are stricly forbidden outside of marriage. Therefore, the vast majority of these girls were victims of rape or incest. Yet this "counselor" was told that he must emphasize to these young girls that, regardless of the circumstances, their pregnacy was THEIR fault and therefore, they were the sinners.

That may be the most vile, repugnent behavior I've heard so far.
 

Nick H. (952)
Friday March 6, 2009, 6:15 pm
Makes me sick. Juat another reason I hate orginazed churches of any kind. It's all about power and greed.
 

stan b. (44)
Friday March 6, 2009, 6:26 pm
The Roman Catholic church seems to be doing its best to put itself out of business.
This story is unbelievable. Thanks Kit.
 

Michael Angel (58)
Friday March 6, 2009, 8:52 pm
Vaughn
Ther won't be more Catholics. AIDs is killing them.-see the links I gave
 
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