Pope Benedict: Therapeutic Abortion Is Worse Than Child Rape

You may recall the heartbreaking story of a 9-year-old Brazilian girl who was repeatedly raped by her stepfather and consequently became pregnant.  The child had been sexually abused since the age of six.  A medical team in Brazil's northeastern city of Recife performed a therapeutic abortion on the girl, who was four months pregnant.  She was carrying twins.  Archbishop José Cardoso Sobrinho, impervious to the family's suffering, stepped in and promptly excommunicated the girl's mother, the Ob/Gyn, and the entire medical team involved in the procedure.  He did NOT excommunicate the child's abuser, arguing that the rape of a child was regrettable - but having an abortion was much, much worse.  A conference of Brazilian bishops eventually reversed Sobrino's mass excommunications - but now that reversal has been overruled by the Supreme Pontiff is Rome.

His "Holiness" Pope Benedict XVI has taken the side of Archbishop Sobrinho in this sad case, condemning the mother and everyone associated with the abortion to hell.  PZ Myers writes on Pharyngula:  We now have an official document from the Catholic church clearly stating their position.  Anyone involved in an abortion for any reason is to be automatically excommunicated, no exceptions.  They've actually hardened their position.  That includes nine-year old children raped by their stepfather.  It includes any doctors who act on sympathy for a maltreated child.  Of course, all the rapist has to do is demand that his victim bear his child, and he will be welcomed in the bosom of the holy church.  The church is standing firm on principle.

The Pope's own Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued this statement:  "Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense.  The Catholic Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life.  (In Vaticanese, that means you get to suffer for all eternity.)  The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy.  (Except, apparently, for sexually abused youngsters.)  Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society."

Progressive Catholics may shake their heads and sigh over the pope's intractable position.  They might even concede that they don't agree with every single aspect of Church dogma.  But the fact remains - each time somebody drops a dollar into that velvet-lined collection basket, they're not only adding to the vast wealth of the Catholic Church, they're supporting a religious institution that values the soul of a child rapist over the health of a little girl that suffered at his hands.

Comments

[Some Guy]

God broke the pope's wrist for this. He was not pleased

[Amanda]

What an awful man. To paraphrase a line from Women Behind Bars... the pope is a shit stain on the panties of life.

[PopeNambla]

That Catholics church's position on child molestation is well established. The only reason they probably view it regrettable at all is that they deviated from the catholic playbook that favors boys instead of girls. Can't knock up little boys.

[Ishmel]

Someone should rape the pope

[Bee Girl]

When the pope goes to hell he can probably expect some backdoor action. I hear that demons have enormous cocks.

[A godless heathen]

Nevermind that the girl would have died if the twins were carried to term.

It's not even regular rape, but abuse on the worst possible magnitude. At least an adult aware of her own sexuality could have the information necessary to consider abortion; at least a teenage girl would have presumably learned about human sexuality in school and could have some means to deal with the situation.

But no.

This was a nine year old girl with a three year history of sexual and mental abuse. I would be surprised if the girl was fully aware of the horror of her situation, but then again, she’s now had a catastrophic and sobering experience that I hope never happens to anyone I know personally.

Good luck, little Brazilian girl, I hope the rest of your life is full of peace.

[Dan]

If there is one place that I do not ever want to go to, it is the bizzaro Catholic heaven.

I guess Jesus can only be so tolerant. Forgiving nazis and rapists takes a lot out of a deity.

[djfhskjfdh]

This is probably the most ridiculous thing I'm ever heard. This is why I denounce religion. It is totally ignorant, misdirected, and used as a weapon. That step father should go rape the pope and see how he feels. Fuck the pope.

[L. Crate]

This is where I make myself unpopular. Buuuut, it's logically arguable that, if you believe that life begins at conception, its not the fetus' fault or responsibility how it was created. So, this abortion is much like killing an unrelated stranger, or in this case strangers, because a disgusting crime they had nothing to do with was committed. Gross, but there it is.

[Glenn]

L. Crate: In this situation the "unrelated strangers" were going to kill the 9 year old if brought to term.

The Catholic church has a long history of ignoring child rape/abuse
I don't care what the pope thinks however I do believe the step father needs to be put in jail.

[unbound]

L. Crate...you are correct in stating the simple-minded position of the Catholic church (and most religions). Those with simplistic black-and-white views of the world simply look to their leaders and accept what they are told. Abortion is bad because life begins at conception...they are told that they are not to attempt to contemplate the full context of the situation, just listen to the leader. The fact that the leaders are just as unwilling to take into account the full context of the situation (e.g. the likely death of the 9 year attempting to take the twins to full term) is one of the larger crimes...they are no better than children themselves with the lack of thought put into their actions. Compounding that crime with an even larger is the lack of action by the church for the rape of the girl...that should be a no-brainer, but the Catholic leaders choose to be silent on that matter instead.

For a group that claims to be moral leaders, they demonstrate remarkably few morals.

[dave the happy bunny]

The church is so stupid in fact its own existence contradicts the bible. I cant remember were but it does say that to worship in public is a sin

[Reason]

Good thing that no one things god should run the government of any country.

Amirite?

[Smo]

I'm a Christian (not catholic), but think this is disgusting to the extreme. The Pope has no right here.

God will judge, thank-you-very-much. The Pope can go home. God cares very much about the sufferings of 9-year old girls.

And it doesn't say in the bible that to worship in public is a sin. It just suggests that it's perhaps not entirely righteous to worship in public for the sake of showing off how 'religious' you are.

[Cory]

The Pope and all leaders of the Catholic Church or any religion who take vows of celibacy should be castrated due to their child molesting ways and lack of empathy for people.I also would like the pope to contract AIDS and if he could be impregnated without the possibility of an cesarean that would be justice.In all honesty I believe the Vatican should be leveled along with its residents.How much longer will people tolerate the hypocracy genocide and hate perpetuated by the faith full and blind.

[Suzi Q]

I hate Brazil more han you know and this is a perfect example WHY. They are evil people and the children need to be saved not ridiculed!

[Kathy]

He need to die for raping her his nasty ass! My prayers go out to the litte girl and her family! Somebody need to rape his ass

[laura]

This absolutely sickens me... That they put the fetus's life over the childs...

The child could not cope pregnancy psychically or psychologically... her health not to mention life is put severely at risk! The child wont understand what shes going through, the severity... the bodily changes, the pain etc..

I cant believe the church condemns this...I really cant... I can understand abortions through accidental pregnancy being condemned but rape... especially that of a child!

Let me put this to them, children cant be excommunicated for what reason? because they are a child, they dont understand things fully yet, they are an innocent right? then why doesnt the same ethics apply to them having an abortion? my god its in the best interests for the child! They are the most important thing here!

Ok so they believe the fetus is alive as soon as its made, why is the fetus's life more important than the childs??? If one has to die why should it be the life thats all ready here? I just dont understand...

I would have certainly did the same thing as her mother! for certain! I am disgusted

[Antidisestablishmentarianist]

"...the Vatican’s top bioethics official, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, also criticized the initial stance, saying the 'credibility of our teaching took a blow as it appeared, in the eyes of many, to be insensitive, incomprehensible and lacking mercy'."

"insensitive, incomprehensible and lacking mercy"

Hmmmmmmm.... Don't see any factual errors in THAT statement. If there is anything the church is addicted to, it is the pain of others.

[rb]

Catholicism is the worst religion. Stop picking on the Jews I say.

[June]

catholicism is so messed up. anyone who believes in that crap is honestly demented.

[JR]

I am an atheist and I agree with the Pope and bishop.

P1 - Abortion is murder.
P2 - Murder is worse than rape.
P3 - Ergo: abortion is worse than rape (esp if its two deaths, twins).

Disagree with P1 all you want. The Church is at least being consistent.

Excommunication is typically reserved for political issues, btw.

[D-chi]

See, it's stuff like this that makes all us Christians look bad. Sure, we're an imperfect people, but this is ridiculous to the point that I looked to see if this was The Onion. I will be the first to tell you I don't believe in abortions, but this one I could understand. I don't believe God makes mistakes and He allowed this pregnancy, but an abortion in this case at least has some logic to it (as opposed to the women who get abortions just because it would inconvenience them to have a child and were not abused). Raping a child is an unfathomable crime. The fact that the Vatican excommunicated everyone but him makes no sense. If Jesus showed us mercy, shouldn't we do the same for others?

[Troy]

D-Chi: So, the same God that allowed the pregnancy must also have allowed the stepfather to rape the child. Since God doesn't make mistakes, that means he meant for it to happen. So, God approves child rape. How can religious people believe in this stuff????

[Tisiphone]

They would consign an abused child to certain, grisly death?

Lovely.