Spanish News-Abortion Bill
The Spanish Senate,the upper house of parliament,passed the legislation to make the government´s controversial abortion bill,law.This bill has been very strongly opposed by the Catholic Church and also the Partido Popular opposition.
The law was tabled by the Prime Minister Sr Zapatero´s government with 132 votes for and 126 votes against.There was also one abstention.The law will now come into being in 4 months.The PP has threatened to take the law to the Constitutional Court to have it overturned.
In December Congress approved the bill which will permit abortion on demand up to the 14th week of pregnancy and up to 22 weeks if there is any danger to the health of the mother or if the foetus has serious health problems.This will bring Spain into line with the rest of the EU.The most controversial part of the law was allowing girls as young as 16 to have an abortion without the knowledge of their parents.This has been ammended and now 16 to 17 year olds have to inform their families.The exclusion to this is if they fear some extreme violence against them from their families.
There have been many demonstrations in Madrid against this law from the Church and also from lay people.That is the right of people in a democracy but these people have no need to use the scheme if they so choose.however it needs to be in place for those who do not think in the same way and who choose to have an abortion.
The Catholic Church has threatened excommunication for those who voted for the law.Surely there are not people around these days who believe such things,but then maybe there are.The King Juan carlos has to sign the bill and it seems that he will not be excommunicated for doing so .They say that his position is unique and that he also has to follow the law.