Neither EU legislation nor the European Convention on Human Rights provides for the right to abortion – as stated in the European Union’s Permanent Episcopal Committee letter to the President of the European Parliament, David Maria Sassoli, regarding the decision of 26 November 2020.
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The bishops criticize the decision after the ruling of the Constitutional Court in Poland
Speech of February 22, 2021 by the Chair of the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Commission of the European Community (COMECE), Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich and its members “An expression of concern about some of the issues contained in the decision of the European Parliament of November 26, 2020 regarding the right to abortion in Poland” – stated in a statement issued by the press today is Wednesday. The KEP office.
In it, the bishops remember art. 5.2 of the European Treaty, which states that “the Union operates only within the limits of the powers conferred on it by treaties by member states”. They also noted that “the issue of the protection of lives is the prerogative of the Member States.”
The Committee is also concerned about the fact that the decision appears to challenge the fundamental right to conscientious objection that stems from freedom of conscience.
– We read in the letter. At the same time, the bishops noted that “in the health sector, people who express conscientious objection are in many cases subjected to discrimination.”
From a legal point of view, we would like to emphasize that neither European Union legislation nor the European Convention on Human Rights provides for the right to abortion.
The Commis bishops confirmed.
The committee also indicated that the Catholic Church is making every effort to take care of women who suffer from difficult conditions or in case of unwanted pregnancy.
He also reminded the bishops of the Church’s teaching on life.
Every human being is called to life by God and needs protection, especially when he is most vulnerable
– We read in the letter.
The committee noted that no words were spoken from Brussels condemning the attacks on churches and places of worship in Poland, which occurred during protests related to the publication of the Constitutional Court ruling.
The Committee of the European Union Bishops Conference (COMECE) was established on 3 March 1980 with the approval of the Holy See. It is composed of delegated bishops and representatives of 25 European Union Episcopal Conferences from England, Wales, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Scotland, Hungary, Italy. Representatives of the Episcopal Conferences of Serbia and Switzerland are also associate members.
The mission of the COMES is to monitor and analyze the political processes in the European Union in all areas of interest and activity of the Church. A separate body is the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE).
KK / PAP
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