Catholic Bishops kick against Imo abortion law

Aswomen group supports Law

OWERRI—Catholic Bishops in Imo State have called on Governor Rochas Okorochaand members of the State House of Assembly to remove all anti-life sections in state’sAbortion Law number 12of 2012, which harbour liberalist-abortion provisions.

However, as the Catholic bishops kick against the law, some pro-abortion women and groups described those opposing the law as “ignorant and wicked people.”

Risingfrom a meeting in Owerri, the Bishops’ call was contained in a communique signed by the Archbishop of Owerri and the Bishop of Orlu, Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna and Dr. Augustine Ukwuoma respectively as the women took their protest to the State House of Assembly.

The group, known asAdvocacy Coalition on Violence Against Women, ACOVAW, not only gave their support to the law but also described it as“a wonderful and proactive piece of legislation that should be applauded rather than subjected to all sortsof misinterpretations and misrepresentations.”

The group’sleaders included President of International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Hauwa Evelin Shekarau and Chairperson, National Council of Women Societies, NCWS, Mrs. Lois Osueke.

The bishops argued that anylaw which failed to respect the right to life and human dignity was automatically null and void as they contradicted natural and divine laws.

“A law to prohibitviolence against women, legitimate as it is in principle must, with all the more reason, prohibit violence against helplessunborn children from conception to natural death without exception. Thou shall not kill,” the Bishopsstated.

It wasalso the considered opinion of the bishops that “we must not enthrone the culture of death through the legalization of abortion, with it’sconsequent sexual permissiveness of all, which will ravage our society morally and spiritually as it hasdone in Europe, America and elsewhere.”

The bishops argued that the right to life and human dignity belonged to human nature and was inherent in every person by the creative act of God.

“These rights do not depend on individuals, parents, church, society or state. They are guaranteed by natural laws, divine commandments and affirmed in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,”the bishops said.

They promised to continue working with God’s faithful people in Imo State, for the protection of the fundamental rights of all, including those of women and the unborn child.

“We will continue to engage Imo State government and Imo State House of Assembly on waysand means to provide for laws that will strengthen the family and protectthe human rightsof all Imo citizens,” the Bishops stated.