Total ban on abortion supported by Polish prime minister, church
In line with the view of pro-life activists and the Catholic church, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo has expressed her support for a proposed law that would ban abortion in Poland.
"I think every [MP] will vote in line with his own conscience," she said in an interview with a Polish radio station, as quoted by Life Site News. "At this stage I can say what my decision will be, at the moment I can not talk about the bill, because this bill does not yet exist. ... As for my opinion, the opinion of Beata Szydło – yes, I support this initiative."
Pro-life activists are reportedly gathering signatures in an effort to protect the rights of the unborn child, and as soon as they reach 100,000 supporters, the proposed law would be taken to Parliament. The Catholic Church backs the initiative.
In a letter read in churches on Sunday and released Wednesday, they expressed their view that unborn children should be fully protected.
"When it comes to the protection of the life of the unborn, we can't support the current compromise set out in the 1993 law that allows abortion in three cases," it reads. Also, "The life of every person is protected by the fifth of the Ten Commandments: thou shalt not kill. Therefore the position of Catholics in this regard is clear and unchanging."
Currently, abortion is not legal in Poland except under three circumstances: that the mother's life or health is in danger; that the pregnancy was due to a criminal act like rape or incest; and when medical experts deem that the unborn child has an incurable disease or a severe, irreversible handicap. It is already considered as the most restrictive in Europe.
Pro-choice groups are against the possibility of the total ban on abortion. According to the Associated Press, thousands went to the streets in protest on Sunday.
"The current law, misleadingly called a compromise, was passed in the early nineties to gain political support from the Catholic Church. The new legislative project has full support from the Catholic Church," said pro-choice group Tak dla Kobiet, as reported by the International Business Times. "Once again, women will be denied basic rights to their bodies, pushed to seek dangerous methods to terminate unwanted pregnancies."
