Korean bishops slam abortion amendment
SEOUL: South Korea's Catholic bishops have strongly opposed a proposed amendment to the country's abortion law, warning it undermines the right to life and could normalise abortion as a 'routine medical procedure.' In a statement, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (CBCK) criticised a bill introduced by Representative Nam In-soon of the Democratic Party, which seeks to revise the 'maternal and child health law.' The bishops objected to the bill's change in terminology from 'artificial intervention for abortion' to 'artificial termination of pregnancy,' saying it downplays the moral gravity of abortion and distorts public perception.
The bill would legalise all forms of abortion — pharmacological and surgical — and include the procedure under the national health insurance system. The bishops warned this could significantly increase abortion rates and pose risks to women's health. They called the proposal a violation of Article 10 of the Constitution, which protects human dignity and life. While affirming women's rights, they emphasised that the fetus's right to life must also be protected and urged lawmakers to support both women and unborn children through compassionate policy. --LiCAS News
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