Yesterday, Monday 19 June 2017, a high level commission from the Roman Catholic Church was at the National Congress to lobby legislators to approve the amendment of the Penal Code passed in the Senate. The Senate amendment outlaws abortion even in the case of incest, rape or malformation of the fetus.
Visiting Congress were Archbishop of Santo Domingo, Francisco Osoria, the vice president of Dominican Episcopal Conference, José Dolores Grullón Estrella; the Bishop of Bani, Víctor Masalles, and the episcopal curate of Santo Domingo East, Benito Ángeles. The representatives of the Roman Catholic Church met with the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Lucia Medina.
In addition, members of the Coalition for the Lives of Women, supported by several women’s groups, called upon the deputies not to penalize abortion when the life of the mother is in danger, when the fetus had malformations incompatible with life, or in the cases of incest or rape.
The bill was sent to the Permanent Justice Commission of the Chamber of Deputies for review. The commission voted to reject the amendments made to the articles on abortion in the Senate. If the deputies assume this position and vote against the Penal Code as received from the Senate, the code will need to be presented again in the next legislative period that opens on 16 August.
Read more in Spanish:
Al Momento
El Dia
20 June 2017
