BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - The government ruled Thursday that an 11-year-old rape victim would be allowed to have an abortion in Romania, dismissing the opposition of 20 church groups.
Pro-life Christian Orthodox groups had threatened to press charges if the girl was allowed to have an abortion in Romania since it would be beyond the 14 week legal limit. The girl is 21 weeks pregnant.
The stance of the church groups was in contrast to the Romanian Orthodox Church's official view that the decision should be left to the girl's family. The parents initially wanted to travel to a country where it would be legal.
"We are talking about ... the rights of this child who was subjected to rape and incest," said Theodora Bertzi, a Labor Ministry official and who was sitting on a committee, made up of government officials and experts, who ruled on the case.
The girl's pregnancy was revealed earlier this month when her parents took her to a doctor because she appeared sick. She told doctors she had been raped by her 19-year-old uncle, who has since disappeared.
The case has bitterly split the medical community, child rights groups and the public.
In a statement, the church groups offered "material, spiritual and psychological help" to the child's impoverished family, adding they would also rear the child in a church institution if the family was unable to care for it.
But splits were apparent even within the church.
Constantin Stoica, spokesman for the Romanian Orthodox Church, to which more than 80 percent of Romanians belong, said Wednesday it was "an exceptional situation which must be treated in an exceptional manner and the family is the only one to take this decision."
He said the church considers abortion a crime, but this belief applies to normal circumstances and not to incest or rape.
Comments
"This is a horrendous situation that his young girl is in. Your assertion that the girl will not live in simply not true. Just this year an 11 year old girl gave birth in Cincinnati. And the youngest recorded case of a child giving birth is age 5."
I didn't say it was automatic, but it's much more likely she would die or be rendered barren if a natural birth were to occur, due to the trauma of the ordeal.
So, since very little girls have survived, then the compassionate thing to do is to force her to go through with it? I disagree entirely.
This is a horrendous situation that his young girl is in.
Your assertion that the girl will not live in simply not true. Just this year an 11 year old girl gave birth in Cincinnati. And the youngest recorded case of a child giving birth is age 5.
Again this is a horrendous situation for this little girl.
But the most loving thing a parent could do in this situation is to save the life of the child AND the grandchild.
Online Sources:
http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.asp?S=7802302
http://scienceroll.com/2006/12/09/the-youngest-mother-ever/
http://www.snopes.com/pregnant/medina.asp
(LA Times, NY Times, Fox 19, Snopes.com
"I suspect that the real issue here is whether you agree with the Lord that killing a pre-born child is murder."
My personal views on abortion are not in play here. My views as the mother of a 12-yr-old are.
If an 11-yr-old was forced to go through with this, more than likely both mother and child would die. Basic biology gives us an understanding of this, which would make it murder because this outcome was known in advance.
You would be willing to force a child to go through this? I find the idea abhorant, and cannot in good conscience and as a parent feel that this is what God would allow.
Wiccan Texan,
The Lord God says that rape is a sin. He says that murder is a sin. He doesn’t allow one person who has had a sin committed against them to have the freedom to then go and commit a different sin against someone else.
Even in our laws, we don’t allow someone to commit a crime just because a crime was committed against them.
I suspect that the real issue here is whether you agree with the Lord that killing a pre-born child is murder.
So, first put an 11-yr-old through rape, then subject her tiny body to a pregnancy/delivery. This is a good plan from a loving, compassionate God? Clue me in on what I'm missing here.
Obviously the Romanian orthodox church doesnt believe the child in the womb can be free of guilt of this crime and must be killed. God can make this into something good and not evil, The child can grow up to serve a wonderful good God of whom can be said is TRUTH ITSELF. We dont know our right hand from our left without God and that cant be disputed and if God gave life to that 11 year old's womb then he has a plan for that child.