CathNews - a Service of Church Resources

Have Your Say 

Recent Comments

1. Thank God for the Archbishop - he's really summed up a lot of issues about the response to this poor girl's trauma. There is more than one life affected here. Surely expressions of compassion for all concerned would not contravene Church teaching on abortion? Indeed, if the Church is not seen as compassionate, how can her teachings be effective anyway?

   Posted By: Joan Seymour

2. I am extremely disappointed that there was a lack of mercy and compassion for the little girl who had a termination under medical advice. It seems to me that little girl's physical health is paramount.
   I do not condone abortion - this however is a different issue.
   The mother, rather than receiving notice of excommunication should be supported for her love and support for her nine year child.
   The act of rape on this child is dire enough without the spiritual censure that followed.
   I ask you what would Christ do?

   Posted By: Maureen Palfrey

3. My heart goes out to that little child to have to go through such an ordeal. I myself have a strong faith in God and try to practise Christ's love by being compassionate and empathetic to others as I believe our creator is to us. I am so disappointed when I hear of people who lack compassion and a sense of justice, they only see the black & white and totally dismiss the injustice and suffering of another human being and almost advocate for the person who has committed the crime. I wonder if the step-father was excommunicated from the church or is his crime not serious enough? Good on you Bishop for your courage to stand up for human dignity and truth.

   Posted By: Karen Drake

4. About time someone in authority spoke against this stupid, heartless, merciless action which set back the credibility of anti-abortion statements and damaged the authenticity of the Vatican.
   Well said,Archbishop Rino Fisichella !

   Posted By: Cliff Baxter

5. What if anything is being said about the man who raped this young girl repeatedly prior to the pregnancy occurring? Is there to again be a deafening silence from the Princes of the Church? Surely this case shows that the men in Rome and elsewhere ought to be preaching responsibility for action to ALL MEN!! Rosemary Keenan WA

   Posted By: Rosemary Keenan

6. Well I think the Archbishop's response is extraordinary, especially given his position as President of this Pontifical Academy.
   
   This is scandalous., in the technical sense - it will result in others sinning, justifying to themselves or others the commission of the crime that is abortion.
   
   Abortion is wrong. period. It seems the Archbishop has made statements that will now be interpreted (whatever he actually said or wrote) as "the Church is against abortion, well most of the time".So much for moral clarity!
   
   And, if as he cites, the penalty for performing or facilitating an abortion is automatic, why should that fact be hidden?
   
   The world shrilly protested a lack of mercy, but because it could not conceive of any mercy to the unborn.
   
   As to the rapist, his crime is deplorable, but what happens to him is not a material or relevant consideration in what happened to the unfortunate girl, or her more unfortunate twins.

   Posted By: Peter

7. Rosemary Keenan,
   
   "What if anything is being said about the man who raped this young girl repeatedly prior to the pregnancy occurring? Is there to again be a deafening silence from the Princes of the Church? Surely this case shows that the men in Rome and elsewhere ought to be preaching responsibility for action to ALL MEN!!"
   
   Nothing needs to be said that isn't already said a thousand times a year from every pulpit, i.e. love one another as I have loved you. In fact, for 99.99 percent of men nothing needs to be said. The horrendous actions of the father are beyond comprehension for us.
   
   As for your suggestion that the men and Rome and elsewhere are not preaching responsibility for action to all men, then it's probably only in inclusive, sin-tolerant parishes that that is not happening! In any place where a priest is actually doing his job properly, men are fully aware of the price of not taking responsibility for their actions. And so are women for that matter.

   Posted By: Paul Keen

8. The Archbishop's comments were so beautiful and so utterly true. Of course this precious girl "should have been above all defended, embraced, treated with sweetness to make her feel that we were all on her side, all of us, without distinction." I can't even begin to imagine the pain, the loneliness and the agony of this little girl. The damage done when we debate and ponder seemingly difficult moral decisions would be diminished if we trust that when we are moved with compassion- it is the spirit of God doing the moving.

   Posted By: Lisa McDonald

9. Two babies were murdered by those abortions. We have to stop playing God with this. Someone said "What would Christ do?" That is a good question. For sure, Jesus wouldn't have done surgery and killed two babies. He would have let nature take its course, as the Church teaches! It is more merciful to give it to God. Killing that young girl's 2 children will not help her in her adult life.

   Posted By: Bob from America

10. Thank goodness someone has stepped up and spoken out about this. It is not always black and white.

    Posted By: Anne

11. Has the Catholic church no respect for the mental and physical wellbeing of this 9 yr old girl? I am not for abortion generally, but do we care more about a few weeks old unborn foetus than the child before us?
    Was the same church willing to stand by this girl for the rest of her life, supporting her mental fragility, financially and support these children and her in every way it could (child minding and the rest)? No I am sure they were not prepared to do that for this young abused child.
    We were taught by Jesus to be non-judgmental, kind, forgiving and to love everyone. Is that what they are doing now?
    I am disgusted with people in protected, out of touch with reality situations in our church judging & condemning etc.

    Posted By: Cate

12. Thank God for Archbishop Fisichella.

    Posted By: Dr Susan Reibel Moore

13. And it's a 'Thank God for the Archbishop' from me, too.
    It's at base a medical issue.
    Peter & Bob from America, you manage to comment on this case without once mentioning that it's a 9 year old child who was impregnated.
    Please explain how the body of a 9 year old child can bring twins to term without all 3 of them perishing.
    It's a horrible situation....& outside the parameters of most circumstances where females are pregnant.
    

    Posted By: Marie H

14. Marie H, I do not know if you are appealing to the operation of double effect, but it doesn't seem that that argument is sustained.
    
    Reports indicate that the mother of the girl went to 2 hospitals - the first one where the doctors would not perform the abortion because they did not consider that the girl was in danger of death, the second obliged. The local Church was attempting to forestall this precipitate action. The licit medical options that might have been contemplated are not within my expertise, but medical science is able to do some amazing things.
    
    See: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09030601
    
    It is a pitiable story all around, there is no doubt.
    
    However commission of another crime doesn't obviate the tragedy.

    Posted By: Peter

15. Maureen (Palfrey) - Do you honestly think Jesus would abort the twins?

    Posted By: Adam Morris

16. Why doesn't the Vatican automatically excommunicate any man who rapes a child? The self righteous Peter and Bob are indirectly protecting rapists. I am disgusted that in this day and age the Church still expects girls and women alone, to deal with the consequences of the irresponsible behaviour of some men. Then to add insult to injury they think they can make decisions about their lives. Who are you, Peter, to claim that since one hospital did not "consider that the girl was in danger of death" that a nine year old child should continue to term with this pregnancy? You are under a delusion if you think you are protecting life - it seems to me you are very selective.
    Thank God for Archbishop Fisichella.
    

    Posted By: Carmel

17. Carmel, I find your allegations about my views wrt the rapist offensive.
    
    I in no way condone his behaviour. It is heartbreaking. However I will not resile from the simple principle of justice that his guilt or otherwise is not a relevant consideration in how to act in relation to his victim.
    
    And are you implying that it is OK to shop around for a medical diagnosis that absolves one's conscience?
    
    You might also refer to this response from Brazilian clergy involved which I think gives the lie to your claim that "the Church still expects girls and women alone, to deal with the consequences of the irresponsible behaviour of some men": http://australiaincognita.blogspot.com/2009/03/brazil-again-parish-priest-replies.html

    Posted By: Peter

18. “the quick proclamation of excommunication… urgency and publicity in declaring”
    Nobody in the Church rushed to put out a media statement proclaiming excommunication. The media asked Abp Cardoso Sobrinho for the Church’s view on the matter. What would Abp Fisichella have him say? – “No comment, the Church has no view on it”? Or should he have lied and said that the automatic excommunication for all abortionists does not apply in this case? He pointed out the fact amid no doubt a great deal of comment to the effect that he and the Church “above all defended, embraced, treated the girl with sweetness to make her feel that we were all on her side, all of us, without distinction”, which the media of course ignored, as it would have given the lie to its attempt to create a scandal and discredit the Church.
    
    If any abortionist deserves excommunication (and they all do), a man who forcibly aborts a minor who is unable to consent is doubly deserving of excommunication. And Abp Fisichella does not have the power to revoke or annul the excommunication.

    Posted By: Ronk

19. Peter, I haven't a clue what 'double effect' means.
    But you still haven't mentioned this is a 9 yr old child.
    
    
    

    Posted By: Marie H

20. Peter,
    
    Your quote "This is scandalous., in the technical sense - it will result in others sinning, justifying to themselves or others the commission of the crime that is abortion."
    
    Recently in our city the family of a young man who was killed by a speeding drunk was in court. The family told the court that they forgave that driver and begged the court to show mercy and compassion!
    
    Are you trying to tell us that mercy and forgiveness of that family is "justifying to themselves or others the commission of the crime?"
    
    Perhaps we should remember "forgive us our wrongs as we forgive those who wrong us.

    Posted By: Chris

21. So glad to read a plea for mercy regarding the abortion of the 9 year old in Brazil. I wonder why the church does not publicly denounce the actions of the stepfather as had he not mistreated "one of God's little ones," the whole situation would not have occurred.

    Posted By: Leonie Power

• » Advertise in CathNews

Email to Friend Please fill out the following details (fields marked with a * are mandatory):
Send To Email Address*:
Send To Name *:
Sent By Email Address*:
Sent By Name *:
Text to include in email:
Captcha validation:	please enter the code above:

^ Page Top

Comment on this article

More from this section

1. Pope announces Year of the Priest

   Pope Benedict has announced the Church will celebrate a special year for priests to begin on June 19, the 150th anniversary of the death of the Cure d'Ars, St Jean Vianney.

2. Male teachers in drift to private schools

   Many male teachers are abandoning public education to work in the Catholic or independent system, new Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show.

3. Eastern bishops lament school treatment of children

   A meeting of Australia's Eastern Rite bishops has complained to Latin Church bishops and to the National Catholic Education Commission over the religious education and treatment of Eastern Rite Catholic children in Australian Catholic schools.

4. Parents battle parish priest over shadecloth

   Parents at a St Joseph's primary school, Riverwood in New South Wales are at loggerheads with parish priest, Fr John Walter, over his refusal to allow a shadecloth to be erected because of the risk of children suffering vitamin D deficiency.