Outcry over archbishop's abortion comments
MONTREAL — Cardinal Marc Ouellet, archbishop of Quebec, has provoked a firestorm of criticism from politicians and feminists by strongly condemning abortion, even when pregnancy is the result of rape.
Pauline Marois, leader of the Parti Quebecois, said she was "completely outraged" by Ouellet's remarks, and accused him of trying to reverse the results of battles waged for 40 years, Radio-Canada reported.
Ouellet has faced harsh criticism since remarks he made Saturday before an anti-abortion conference in Quebec.
"A woman who has been raped has lived through a trauma and she needs to be helped," he said. "But she must do that with respect for the being that is inside her... There is already one victim. Must we have another one?"
Marguerite Blaise, minister for senior citizens, told Radio-Canada, that she was "very uncomfortable" with the cardinal's remarks and "does not accept" them.
"Women are capable of deciding for themselves," she said.
Alexa Conradi, director of the Federation of Women of Quebec, said the cardinal's comments showed that he is "completely disconnected from the reality of women."
But she added that his remarks came in the context of a "constant attack against the right to obtain an abortion," which she said was being waged with support from conservative politicians.
"The religious right attacks abortion rights, and it has the ear of the Prime Minister (Stephen Harper). That is very worrying," she said, according to the online journal Cyberpresse Montreal.
In recent remarks to AFP, Conradi said Conservative politicians had proposed five bills seeking to limit the right abortion since they took power, though none have succeeded.
Harper refuses to allow Canadian dollars to pay for abortions in developing countries.
His position is supported by some Canadians and thousands of protestors attended a "march for life" last week in Ottawa.
But the backlash against the cardinal was sufficient to force the Archdiocese of Quebec to issue a statement of "clarification" on Monday night.
"The cardinal does not condemn any woman, and he hopes that they can get help before or after abortions. He understands the distress involved with the sad choice. Mothers and fathers deserve the support of all society so they can avoid arriving at an abortion, Adoption must be facilitated," the statement said.
The communique stressed that "criminalization" of abortion was not a "priority."
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