Vanguard – Catholic Bishops in Imo State have called on Governor Rochas Okorocha and members of the State House of Assembly to remove all anti-life sections in state’s Abortion Law number 12 of 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.”
Rising from 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 as Advocacy 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 sorts of misinterpretations and misrepresentations.”
The group’s leaders 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 any law 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 prohibit violence against women, legitimate as it is in principle must, with all the more reason, prohibit violence against helpless unborn children from conception to natural death without exception. Thou shall not kill,” the Bishops stated.
It was also the considered opinion of the bishops that “we must not enthrone the culture of death through the legalization of abortion, with it’s consequent sexual permissiveness of all, which will ravage our society morally and spiritually as it has done 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 ways and means to provide for laws that will strengthen the family and protect the human rights of all Imo citizens,” the Bishops stated.
