_WORLD WATCH______________________________
________________Chile_______________
No votes for Church opponents
Government leaders lash back
Cardinal Jorge Medina
Estevez, the prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Divine Worship sparked a political controversy in his native Chile when he said that Catholics should not vote for politicians who promote ideas incompatible with the social doctrine of the Church.
During a press conference, Cardinal Medina said, “Chilean Catholics, if they take their faith seriously, cannot vote for candidates promoting divorce (which is illegal in Chile), abortion, or birth control.”
The government of President Ricardo Lagos reacted angrily, saying that the cardinal, as an official of the Holy See, was the equivalent of a cabinet minister from a foreign country, and therefore was violating the canons of diplomacy by intervening in Chilean domestic politics. Lagos called the papal nuncio to register his “dissatisfaction” with Cardinal Medina’s statements, and according to the local press, he instructed the Chilean ambassador at the Vatican to file an official complaint.
Cardinal Medina made his statements four months before new congressional elections, and in the midst of a political debate to legalize both divorce and the abortifacient “morning-after” pill. Both proposals are being supported by President Lagos’ Socialist Party.
Nevertheless Cardinal Medina, who is known in Chile for his candor, did not back off. Instead, in an interview with the daily El Mercurio, he said he was speaking “as a Chilean citizen and a Chilean bishop with the right to express his opinion.” Asked if he would maintain his position in the face of the government’s disapproval, he answered: “Absolutely! Otherwise I would be crazy. If the day comes when a bishop claims that a Catholic can vote for candidates whose policies are opposed to the teachings of the Church, it would mean that something is wrong.”
Regarding the harsh criticism published against him in several Chilean media outlets, the prelate said that he was “happy, because I receive these attacks for defending the doctrine of Jesus Christ. I consider myself very, very privileged.”
Court rules against “morning-after” pill
Decision reverses approval
The Chilean Supreme Court announced on August 30 that the “morning-after” pill, which had been approved for use by the Ministry of Health, is illegal and must be barred from use in the country.
In its 3-2 decision, which was hailed as a victory by Chilean pro-life organizations, the Supreme Court explained that “under the light of constitutional and conventional norms,” the use of the pill “is equal to abortion.” Abortion, the justices observed, is prohibited by law in Chile, and also barred by the country’s medical norms.
Immediately after the announcement, Jeanette Vega, director of the Institute of Public Health (ISP) tried to minimize the consequences of the Court’s decision by saying that it was only applicable “to the pill Postinal from the Silesia Laboratory.” Nevertheless, Jorge Reyes, a lawyer of the pro-life organization Frente por la Vida, points out that it “is evident that the Court’s decision is applicable to all products” that have the same abortifacient effects.
Reyes also announced that Frente por la Vida will take the offensive in the Chilean judiciary, asking the Supreme Court for a full explanation of this decision. The implications, he reasoned, could apply to other abortifacients. “We believe we can stop other abortive methods such as the IUDs,” he said.
The Supreme Court decision was reportedly viewed with concern at the presidential palace. But Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz of Santiago said that “this decision confirms the position not only of the Supreme Court, but of all Chile, because our people do not want any form of abortion.”
Back to Catholic World Report October 2001 Table of Contents